Top Kurdish general: Watching over ISIS prisoners now a 'second priority'
Syrian opposition fighters assigned to guard thousands of ISIS captives are rushing to the border ahead of an expected attack by Turkish forces, a top Kurdish general told NBC News on Monday.
Gen. Mazloum Kobani, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said watching over the ISIS prisoners locked up in Syria is a "second priority" now that the United States has cleared the way for a Turkish assault likely targeting the mostly Kurdish forces along the border.
"This is a very big problem," Kobani told NBC News. "Nobody has helped in this regard."
The detention centers hold 12,000 suspected terrorists swept up during the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State militant group's fighters in the region, according to Kobani and U.S. officials. Of the 12,000, 2,000 are foreign fighters, and Iraqis and Syrians make up the remaining 10,000, Pentagon officials say.
Kobani said fighters who were previously tasked with securing the detention facilities are now streaming toward the border in preparation for battle with the Turkish army.
"All their families are located in the border area," he said, speaking through a translator. "So they are forced to defend their families."
Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) gather at the al-Tanak oil field as they prepare to relaunch a military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group, near Abu Kamal, province of Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria on May 1, 2018. Delil Souleiman / AFP - Getty Images fileKobani spoke to NBC News just hours after the Trump administration announced that Turkey will soon launch its “long-planned operation” in northern Syrian and the U.S. won’t intervene. By withdrawing from the area, the U.S. will leave behind the SDF they have partnered with for several years, leaving them to fight Turkey alone.
“Honestly, it makes us disappointed,” Kobani said, adding that the decision hurts Syrian confidence in the U.S. and hurts American credibility.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long been threatening to invade northern Syria to attack the Syrian Kurds stationed near the border.
Erdogan views the Syrian Kurds, who make up the majority of the SDF, as terrorists who threaten the stability of his country. But the Pentagon has counted the well-trained Kurdish fighters as its most effective partner in the fight against ISIS.
As a result, U.S. military officials had been urging the White House not to abandon the Syrian Kurds under pressure from Turkey.
Kobani said the decision will surely cost the lives of fighters who had battled alongside American soldiers in vanquishing ISIS.
The Kurdish commander said he's now considering what would have been unthinkable a few years ago: partnering with Syrian leader Bashar Assad to fight the Turkish forces.
"This is one of the options that we have on the table," he said.
He said he is worried about the possible Turkish military action, and called on the American people to pressure President Donald Trump to help.
"The people who fought with you against international terrorism, against ISIS, are under risk right now and they are facing a big battle alone," he said.
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Nothing like not watching ISIS prisoners... until they return home.
Europe and NATO had enough warning to mobilize its own military forces for deployment to Syria to guard the ISIS prisoners. And European NATO troops would provide the same political protection for the Kurds as does the presence of US troops. Where is Europe? Where is NATO? Why is this the responsibility of only the United States?
Turkey is dragging NATO into Syria whether Europe likes it or not. Turkey's incursion into northern Syria hasn't been sanctioned by anyone; Turkey's incursion is illegal. And Turkey conducting military operations inside Syria may result in a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia.
The Kurds do not seem so squeamish that they would allow the ISIS prisoners to simply leave. Once Turkey begins actual combat, the ISIS prisoners may simply become casualties of war.
Link?
Given the fact that Turkey is about to commit genocide on the Kurds...why should it surprise you if guarding the prisons are no longer a top priority-- and that the Kurds won't hang around to continue to guard them as the barbaric Turkish forces advance?
The Kurds are in a battle for their lives and we already know that they are not watching the prisoners. As for the ISIS prisoners, you seem to forget that Turkey actually gave them money, so I doubt anything but freedom will happen to them.
Or mass graves. The Kurds were fighting ISIS before the United States entered the picture. The Kurds did not join the United States in the fight; the United States joined the Kurds. And keep in mind that Turkey has been an ally of the United States in the fight against ISIS, too.
I seriously doubt Turkey has given money to ISIS. Turkey has been subjected to more terrorist attacks from ISIS than any other European country. And, yes, Turkey is a European country because it is a member of NATO, has been a member of the European Economic Community, and is trying to become a member of the European Union.
Remember that Europe pressed Turkey to control the refugee flotillas from Turkey to Greece, open refugee camps on its border for Syrian refugees, and do more to stop the flow of refugees migrating into Europe. Turkey was Europe's solution for illegal immigration. And Erdogan has threatened Europe with closing the refugee camps and opening the gates for more refugee migration into Europe. Europe is protecting its own self interest by turning a blind eye on Turkey's incursion into northern Syria to attack the Kurds.
If the United States confronts Turkey and the flow of refugees increases, who will Europe blame? Europe will be pressing the United States to remove Assad, end the civil war, and stop the flow of refugees. But that will put the United States in direct conflict with Russia. Europe has set the stage for another little dirty war just as they did in Vietnam. The United States doesn't need to fight another Vietnam.
No they did not!
Trump was on the phone with Erdogan, got off with his mind made up and issued the orders to withdraw. There are plenty of articles you can find about even his supporters, top Brass in the Pentagon, being taken by surprise! (I won't waste time posting links to that-- there are plenty of them-- from CNN to Fox!)
That's partly true-- and partly false.
Initially Turkey supported ISIS (because they were fellow Sunni and Assad, the ruler of neighbouring Syria) was a Shia. . Turkey gave money to ISIS, but perhaps more importantly they keep their southern border (Syria and iraq) open-- that's how most foreign ISIS recruits entered.
At the time I was wondering when ISIS would start to "bite the hand that feeds it" (because despite Turkey's support of ISIS, ISIS was so extreme-- so totally crazy actually-- that they didn't think Turkey was extreme enough).
And them sure enough-- ISIS made the mistake of attacking Turkey.
Because this nation can not be 'Leader of the free world' from afar unless it stands in the gap where the world can see and respect it. If we can not stand in the gap; it won't take other nations, any other nation, long to realize the saying, "we can do bad all by ourselves." Then, at some time after our status is diminished and other nations liaison with agreements that exclude (or look past U.S.) us, where will be the 'big-mouth' conservatives then wanting to pony up and peddle wealth for control over international decision-making? If you are not "in-charge" - you have no direct right to speak to what other nations do!
If you are not "in-charge" - you have no direct right to speak to what other nations do! You can pretend Trump is some model of "guardian for peace" all you want. 'Everything' the man touches dies eventually: with one hand this monster gives and with the other hand it taketh away. You will do well to process this and understand it.
Donald Trump has not entered into any war yet, because it has not 'profited' him to do so. However, given a second-term (if not next year), given that he has 'tasted' blood through a proxy nation (Turkey), we are left to wonder who will acquire (purchase) our services at a cost on the "global" market.
This incident is a demonstration of the 'first-act' of betrayal. It has been called that by the people who are about to suffer. It came without warning and it is harbinger to other nations not willing to 'play ball' with Trump, the way he throws. This is Trump's version of taking his ball and going home.
This disgusting man, left them 'high and dry' on the battlefield. Why? Because Trump is not bonded to nothing that he can not cash.
What I really think is you are repeatedly supplying 'fluff' as a substitute for discussion.
So one of the consequences of Trump's actions will be that thousands of ISIS prisoners will be released....
More likely killed.
What, you think the Kurd are going to release 12,000 fighters to attack their rear? Please.
The Kurds are now in for the fight of their life. What are you not getting? Turkey commits genocide. They are going to kill all the regional Kurds. Now tell me what would you do if your families were going to get killed? Fight those who are going to kill you, or watch ISIS terrorists?
So... If the Kurds are the new Jews, does that make Trump the new Hitler?
They are? Have they killed the 15 million or so that are in Turkey? I must have missed that genocide.
The last ones to the front are going to kill the ISIS/ISIL prisoners under their care before they go. Or do you think they are just going to release a hostile military force of 12,000 that can rearm and attack them from the rear while they are engaged with Turkish forces?
Here is what everyone is missing. We are in Syria illegally. I am shocked that the Syrian government hasn't told us to take a hike and stop invading their air space yet. They should be pressing the issue in the UN and world court. This is not a NATO action we are a part of; and we don't have a single UN Security Council Resolution to stand on. Pretty sure the US war on terror doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot tot the Syrians, Russians, Chinese, and Iranians.
Does Syria want Turkey to invade northern Syria? Better still does Russia; who has already had problems with Turkey shooting down one of the fighter planes? Russia has a military base, air field, and port in Syria. They have a vested interest in seeing Syria whole and Assad in charge.
We are not the only actors on the stage. If the world wants to protect the Kurds they can damn well do it. Where is the EU, NATO, and UN during all of this? Or is the whole damn planet expecting the US to do all of the heavy lifting yet again. This time with no legal leg to stand on if things go south.
Guess the Syrians have already asked the US and Turkish forces to leave.
I guess that would have been your same attitude about the Jews, too.
Well, apparently East Germany is wasting no time.
Yep, while they go north to fight the Turks. They said that is what they will do, and with the US completely abandoning them that is the most logical choice.
Glad Trump has given the green light for that to continue.
Quite honestly, it's nothing new. They are effectively the Jews of the 21st Century. They were being slaughtered by the Turks and Iraqis for doing nothing more than being Kurds.
OK you convinced me.
Since they've been persecuted before its OK for our President to collude with their extermination by removing troops that had the role of stopping the Turks.
(Shince we're at it, let's see to it that the Arab countries surrounding israel have the means to exterminate the Jews-- after all they've been persecuted before throughout history. Perhaps give the Arabs nukes-- that might help overcome the IDF's superiority.?)
Attack with what? newly released prisoners don't have weapons!
And in any event, they would be in no shape to attack battle hardened Kurds.
It makes Trump what he has always wanted to be - an absolutist. Donald Trump, the dreamer, who follows no one else's counsel, for long.
And Trump is a military mind when? You do realize that those ISIS prisoners are still citizens in the twisted politics of their own nations? It is not permissible to slaughter foreign fighters wholesale!
Agreed, that will be one of the possible outcomes that "somebody" in their great and unmatched wisdom didn't consider. Perhaps if Trump would discuss his plans with those who have much more wisdom in these areas the country would avoid many of these utterly stupid and unwise decisions coming to fruition.
We are where we are because of his supporters and the republican leadership.
Perhaps if Bush Jr would have discussed all of the ramifications and aftermath of invading Iraq; instead of maintaining the embargo and no fly zone. We wouldn't be in this situation.
Perhaps if Obama would have discussed sending US troops into Syria, and US air craft into Syrian air space on bombing runs under the guise of the war on terror; w/o getting backup from NATO or a UN Security Council resolution. We wouldn't be in this situation.
We are here because of the two previous butt munch administrations and their supporters.
No, we are there because of ISIS and their potential danger they are to US. You can blame Afganastan on the other presidents, but not this. And strangely, we are still in Afghanistan but pulling out from the one people who had our backs. Disgusting.
Perhaps if Bush Jr . . .
Perhaps if Obama. .
If, if, if....
There's an old saying:
If my grandmother had a wheel and two handles-- she's be a wheelbarrow!
If!
I went to college in North Carolina. We used to drink a lot of beer and sit around and get very philosophical.
Actually, I've done similar things with Yankees (Northernersd) as well.
But there was an interesting difference-- amny Southerners are obsessed with discussing that particular "if"-- what if the South has won the war?
At first the discussion was interesting-- but it seemed like it never stopped.
It got boring after a while-- I decided it was a total waste of time.
(P.S; Ever wonder what it would be like if Mike Dikakis won the election? That should be good for a ten hour block of you time to discuss )
How do you know what I am like when you never met me?
Do you always assume you know what people are like when you've never met them?
I attended UNC Chapel Hill. We led the league in beer consumption. Playboy had an annual piece about the biggest drinkers in the NCAA. Carolina always won until Playboy retired us from the "competition" because they considered us professional drinkers.
You are here in this situation because of an impulsive president who thinks he has something to gain by portraying fake leadership in a moment when the whole world is watching him squirm. Consider the meaning of this expression: "Wag the dog."
A fellow Tar Heel!
Remember Silent Sam?
I drank a lot of beer there as well.
But then I got involved in other activities (along with some friends such as John Dunne and Karen Parker )
You mean the former (many years ago) Bishop of Canterbury?
But ISIS is completely defeated...
The Grand Dutchy of Fenwick!
We'll give him the same punishment Obama got when the same thing happened in Iraq.
Trump will use his "great and unmatched wisdumb" to deal with Erdogan.
Now that is spot on. 1.5 million Armenians killed by Turkey. The Holocaust was based on their genocide. We say never again, and then let it happen all over again.
Yes but don't forget-- Trump is sincere in wanting to remove troops-- because he wants to "stop the endless wars in the Middle East"
Trump admin sending thousands more troops to Saudi Arabia
Dan De Luce and Courtney Kube
9 hrs ago
Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered the deployment of 3,000 service members, two fighter squadrons, one air expeditionary wing, two Patriot Missile batteries and one THAAD missile defense system, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said.
Trump admin sending thousands more troops to Saudi Arabia
Hat tip: Kavika
As accurate as it gets.
Trump has signed off on a genocide. Of course he doesn't care, n ot like he has a "tower" in northern Syria.
Trump has signed off on a genocide. Of course he doesn't care, n ot like he has a "tower" in northern Syria.
The Tower of Babylon (AKA "The Tower of Babble")
Babylon was a key kingdom in ancient Mesopotamia from the 18th to 6th centuries BC. The name-giving capital city was built on the Euphrates river and divided in equal parts along its left and right banks, with steep embankments to contain the river's seasonal floods. Babylon was originally a small Akkadian town dating from the period of the Akkadian Empire c. 2300 BCE.
Mesopotamia-- that's current day Iraq for all you home gamers.
1000 Americans were supposed to stop the Turkish army? How? By waving the flag? No, it would have to be by risking their lives. If Turkey wants to advance on Kurdish positions, they're going to do it and the only thing that's going to stop them is a shooting war with the United States. People act like our little band of troops is bullet proof or something.
And as to Turkey being intimidated by the mere presence of American troops, that doesn't seem to be the case. It Turkey is advancing, they are doing it while our people are still there. It takes time to pack up and leave. It's not like Trump makes the announcement and then the Enterprise beams them all out from space.
OMG….say it ain't so !
OK--mit ain't so.
That was a totally stupid comment...
It's a good thing I don't say things like that to you. You'd have a bigger meltdown !
Not bullet-proof. Safe-guarded by the U.S. A. brand. However, if the brand shows itself to be compromised, and subject to debate. . . all bets are all.
That's really not what we were doing there, though. We were arming and training them to kill ISIS, not to create the independent state of Kurdistan.
What's more, the Kurds took advantage of the chaos of the Syrian civil war to advance into new territory. This is territory they could not have taken or held on to just a few years ago. Now, thanks to our arms and training, they have more of a shot at protecting themselves than they would have before we were there. That doesn't go away just because we are moving what is basically an advisory contingent.
If we can continue to help the Kurds in some way, that's fine, but I see no reason to commit American troops to an actual battle in a conflict that has been waged for generations already.
I'm sorry, how did this 'trade up' to a deal on escalation? Donald Trump, a brand management sort, simply removed our 'brand' from the field in a deliberate attempt to let all hell break loose. It is a deadly distraction from his domestic problems. An attempt to move the press and the House off his 'case.' It is an deadly wag the dog event.
You can't just assume an American presence - no matter how small - will make everything hunky dory. You have to be willing to consider the consequences of making a stand. Someone might call your bluff. Then what?
It's apparent that Turkey was going to do what they are doing regardless of the presence of our little band of advisors. It's nice to think of the American brand has having some influence, and it certainly does, but it's not a magic wand. You aren't going to just wave the flag and get everyone to behave the way you want.
Just look at what's happening now. America has actually expressed its disapproval and objections to Turkey's actions. Do they give a shit? Clearly they don't.
So would it help to have people there to back up our words? Maybe. But do you think we need to have 100 or 1000 actual human beings on the ground in a particular spot in Syria or Turkey to respond militarily? Of course not!
In the face of advancing tanks and artillery, what would those few Americans on the ground accomplish? Do you want them to lay down in the desert and dare the tanks to drive over them?
If we do want to respond militarily, I would actually prefer to have our boots-on-the-ground somewhere else so they aren't punished for the damage done by our missiles and bombs.
Yes, it would. Did the Turkish president call the American president to set the stage for the withdrawal of our 'special forces' personnel? Why did the Turkish president deem it smart to do so? Please elaborate.
Why did our president capitulate to the Turkish president?
What would the Turkish president have done (feel at liberty to speculate) if the "amazing" - the U.S. military is better equipped than any other military in the history of the world bar none - president had told the 'other guy president' to stand down?
NOTE: THIS is not the scene I am looking for, but you can glean the pattern from the "Edo God" confrontation with Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation: (First several scenes.)
According to Trump, this nation of ours could simply put a "fear of god" in the Turkish president.
Turkey publicly announced they would do this back in January and they said they would do it whether or not American troops were still in the area.
What would you like him to do and on what grounds based in international treaty and law? Turkey is invading Syria, who doesn't seem too broken up about it. Syria is not asking for our help. Turkey has been a military ally - by treaty - of the United States for 65 years. We had forces in Syria to kill ISIS - something everybody can get behind. But now that's over. On what basis would we have military forces in Syria for the purpose of fighting Turkish forces?
The whole point of this is to get the Syrian Kurds to ask for help from the Syrian government, which they are already doing. That will allow Syrian forces to peacefully reenter territory they left behind to fight their civil war. That's how the Kurds were able to establish control in that area. Now, they will have to cede control back to the Syrian government. How can we possibly insist that a sovereign nation give up a significant portion of its land? Would there be any international support for that position? I very much doubt it.
Because Donald Trump is a coward. That's why. You can't bring yourself to say so I say it for you. Donald Trump abandoned the Kurds to die on a shared battlefield. The world is watching it and will hate him for it. Citizens of this country will be informed of it and hate him for it. Our defense department has come face to face with dishonor on the battlefield and will hate him for it. ISIS is being released and scattering across the battlefield looking for sanctuary - they will hate him too. Emphatically.
And you can't bring yourself to criticize your lying, U.S. president who is about to be impeached because he puts his personal interests above our national security. What Donald Trump gives with one hand, he steadily takes back with the other hand. Trump the
.
So you're literally asking and answering your own questions now. You can leave me out of that game. If you want to talk to yourself, don't use my name.
That is so funny!
Gotta agree with that.
According to an article on my MSN home page, it has begun and there are reports that civilians have died. What does Trump do? He shrugs.
Actually, Neo-Con that he is, he's done more than just shrug:
US To Send 3,000 Troops To Saudi Arabiia.
The new deployment means that, since May, the US has sent an additional 14,000 members of the armed forces into the region.
(That's because he "wants to end the endless wars in the Middle East")
Nice to see trump rehydrating ISIS. /s
With what there is to be sure, an insurgence in activity by ISIS, we are going to see a bloodbath as never before. Sleeper cells here are going to activate and attack.
They will want their revenge.
His latest quote "the Kurds didn't help us during World War ll ".
He seriously said that !!! This can't go on.
What a creep of a person he is.
How fucking stupid can he be? Turkey didn't help us in WWII either...They symbolically joined the Allies in Feb. 1945 and NEVER participated in armed conflict. The Kurds were not a country in WWII they were be suppressed by Turkey.
What Turkey did do was fight AGAINST us in WWI...He might want to discuss Turkey in WWI with the Aussies and Kiwis.
The ignoramus doesn't understand that the US and Brits fucked the Kurds at the end of WWI...
Obviously, history is not his strong suit.
Of course there is that little genocide that the Turks were involved in. It's called the Armenia Genocide. The Turks were pretty busy during WWI. Fighting the Allied forces and committing genocide against the Armenians.
A draft dodger coming down on them for not participating.
Either is math, geography, and grammar.
What exactly is Trump's strong suit?
Bloviation.
Dont forget vulgarity. He mastered that at military school,..
Lying?
He does wear nice ties.
Made in China.
Remember his hypocritical "made in America" horseshit?
I know but I thought I would say something close to being nice. The reason they are so long is that they act as a directional pointer for his dick so that he can find it.
Going forward, when we elect our leaders, we have to start taking a long clarifying look at their strong suits. It can not be simply the coin of the realm. For a single focus on coin will yield corruption in every other area of a person's constitution.
Trump. Period.
When he dodged the draft, he didn't help us either. What a pos.
And beyond that-- he actually said they didn't help us at the Normandy landing.
Check out these two links.
Amazing stupidity-- even for our Bone-Spur Challenged leader,
There was an apologist for Trump on Fox News earlier tonight, I didnt catch his name. He said that the situation Turkey is going through , with worries about border security , is near and dear to Trump's heart because he worries about U.S. border security in a similar way as Turkey worries about it's borders.
True story.
Now I have heard it all. That is not their land. That belongs to another country and they are trying to make it theirs. I believe there is a word for that...."Lebensraum". If you are unsure where to reference that... Look up Nazi Germany.
The idea is that Trump has sympathy for Turkey because Turkey is allegedly worried about invaders across their borders the same way Trump says the US is worried about invaders across our border.
I never thought about that until I saw this guy say it , but it sounds plausible given Trumps thinking.
I still like the explanation that Trump doesnt want to rock the boat with his Turkish benefactors. The twin Trump Towers in Istanbul are said to be the flagships of all his European properties, and Turks visit trump hotels more per capita than any other nationality group.
Oh yeah, the old Nazi scam of ''living space''...
Wow, now that really is a load of crap....The Kurds have never violated the Turkish border. The problem with that excuse is that Turkey allowed thousands of ISIS fighters to cross their country into Syria.
So much for that load of bullshit.
Here is your chance with all your unmatched wisdom, but wait it's only a bunch of Kurds being killed. That can't compare to the Trump Hotel in Istanbul.
Kavika,
You forget that Turkey also aided ISIS. Great allies.
Good point seems that thousands of ISIS fighters made their way through Turkey to join and fight with ISIS...
Thanks to Trump, thousands more will now.
It's an absolutist thing. Emphatically.
This is just appalling.
Possibly the hugest fuck up in foreign policy history? You know dip shit would own it because of one word.
Seriously though, it sickens me to see us abandon the Kurds like that. Sure we gave them support and munitions and never saw a penny back, but they supplied the blood. They were the ones on the ground dying for OUR joint cause.
But abandoning them like a spineless coward is Trump's MO. Trump is, through and through, a spineless coward.
Yep. That's Erdogan's picture at the bottom.
Erdogan's banner was at the top of Trump Towers during construction.
No conflict of interest there. /s
If that flea bag hotel of Trump's were suddenly to collapse, I would not shed a tear.
From the photo, it looks like one of the two towers is already falling over.
That would be sweet.
An obvious, deserved, and predicted "fuck you".
One thing is for sure. Trump isn't going to get the Nobel Peace Prize. Oh, wait a second, Arafat got it.
After leaving the Kurds in a lurch we have committed troops to defend that bastion of democracy and human rights called Saudi Arabia.
It's best to remember that the Saudia's fought side by side with us as far back as WWII suffering mass casualties. /s
Lest we forget they murdered and chopped up a resident of the US, but no one in SA was involved. They have clean hands. more /s
Exactly.
One of the main arguments I've heard here supporting Trump's troop withdrawal from Syria is that its part of Trump's promise to withdraw troops to "stop the endless wars in the Middle East".
But strangely, while he's withdrawing troops from Syria-- as you mentioned, he's increasing the number of troops in Saudi Arabia.
We have to stop listening to enablers who spin for this lying man. If you can not take a man at his word, how the hell can you trust anything he states as leader? Trump is the embodiment of spin and delusion. I am angry all day with educated professionals who are under his sway. It is the most ridiculous use of "productive" minds I have ever encountered.
Yeah, they cut up lots of German soldiers with bone saws at Normandy.
MIGA = Making ISIS Great Again...
Trumps news campaign slogan.