US Says Turkey OKs Use Of Bases Against Militants

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

AREQUIPA, Peru (AP) -- Turkey will let U.S. and coalition forces use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, American defense officials said Sunday.

But progress in negotiations with Turkey - including Ankara's agreement to train several thousand Syrian moderate rebels - may not be enough to stop the massacre of civilians in Syria's border town of Kobani, where intense fighting continues.

The Obama administration had been pressing Ankara to play a larger role against the extremists, who have taken control of large swaths of Syria and Iraq, including territory on Turkey's border, and sent refugees fleeing into Turkey.

U.S. officials confirmed Saturday that Ankara had agreed to train Syrian moderate forces on Turkish soil. A Turkish government official said Sunday that Turkey put the number at 4,000 opposition fighters and said they would be screened by Turkish intelligence.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_UNITED_STATES_TURKEY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-10-12-17-49-01

[flamingdem]

1. Okay, now let's see it happen

They also agreed to join the coalition..

[drray23]

2. they have their tanks

Sitting on the hill right next to kobani. They could push back isis in an instant if they wanted to. I guess they are still struggling with whether or not helping the kurds will backfire in their country.

[7962]

3. Couldnt it actually HELP? Maybe the Kurds would appreciate the help.

Maybe its possible that it could turn into a situation where they decide to kinda leave each other alone. Maybe.

[drray23]

4. there is a significant number of kurds

In Turkey. They have their own political party, the pkk. For years they have pushed for independence and have clashed on and off with the turkish authorities.


The turks are afraid that if they strenghten the kurds by helping them defeat isis they will partner with the syrian and iraqi kurds to form a new country taking a chunk of turkey in the process.

Nothing is simple in the region...

[Igel]

5. They're walking a fine line.

Between being openly at war with IS, meaning that IS would be openly at war with them.

Being hostile but not at war with IS, earning ill-will from IS supporters in Turkey.

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To being so neutral as to appear to be complicit or sanction the IS.

To be seen approving of the way the Kurdish forces are being bled dry, and positioned (in the end, perhaps, even if not now) to benefit from "rescuing" the Kurds or at least having Turkish hegemony over the Kurds.


Tough call, and pressuring them to do something that may hurt them more than it hurts us is typical US policy these days. "We like this, but don't want to pay a price. Here, you help us achieve our goal, you spill your blood and destroy your infrastructure. We'll send dollars. And maybe advisors." Even if the US may yet be dragged into actual fighting beyond Apaches and aerial bombardment.

[Major Hogwash]

6. Took them long enough.

ISIL is in their backyard, for crying out loud.

If a pack of grizzly bears were in my backyard chewing on the neighbors, you can bet your ass it wouldn't take very long for me to be convinced that I need to get involved in the fracas.

[Baclava]

7. maybe not - 'Turkey: No new deal with US on using air base'

ANKARA, Turkey: A Turkish official says there is no new agreement with the United States on using an air base in southern Turkey for operations against ISIS.

Turkey and the United States are still talking about the Incirlik air base as well as Turkish demands for the creation of a no-fly zone and a safe haven for refugees, the government official told the Associated Press on Monday.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Oct-13/273899-turkey-denies-allowing-us-to-use-bases-for-anti-isis-strikes.ashx#axzz3G25VD4VG