This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/25/the-kurds-and-trumps-syria-withdrawal
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
The Kurds and Trump’s Syria withdrawal | The Kurds and Trump’s Syria withdrawal |
(25 days later) | |
In criticising Trump’s abrupt withdrawal from Syria, Janine di Giovanni won’t admit that what passed for American policy – and by default that of the west – never made sense (Trump’s Syria withdrawal has handed a huge gift to Isis, 22 December). Assad’s secular regime did not pose a threat to the west. Yet from the start of Syria’s troubles we diplomatically sided with the insurgents. We trained “moderates” and supplied them with “non-lethal” equipment. When it became obvious that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey were aiding Islamic State, we turned a blind eye. | In criticising Trump’s abrupt withdrawal from Syria, Janine di Giovanni won’t admit that what passed for American policy – and by default that of the west – never made sense (Trump’s Syria withdrawal has handed a huge gift to Isis, 22 December). Assad’s secular regime did not pose a threat to the west. Yet from the start of Syria’s troubles we diplomatically sided with the insurgents. We trained “moderates” and supplied them with “non-lethal” equipment. When it became obvious that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey were aiding Islamic State, we turned a blind eye. |
Then there was Washington’s creation of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. It was in a sense too successful, occupying much of north-east Syria. No thought was given to reconciling Kurdish rule over extensive Arab-populated areas. And Washington must have known that Turkey would never tolerate a bordering Kurdish state. Syria’s Kurds would have been better off aligning themselves with Assad.Yugo KovachWinterborne Houghton, Dorset | Then there was Washington’s creation of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. It was in a sense too successful, occupying much of north-east Syria. No thought was given to reconciling Kurdish rule over extensive Arab-populated areas. And Washington must have known that Turkey would never tolerate a bordering Kurdish state. Syria’s Kurds would have been better off aligning themselves with Assad.Yugo KovachWinterborne Houghton, Dorset |
• Trump’s ordering the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, in the very week that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s president, has declared his intent to attack the enclave of Rojava, is a shocking betrayal of the Kurds, until now armed and supported by the US, who have been successfully fighting Isis in Syrian towns and villages throughout this conflict. | • Trump’s ordering the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, in the very week that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s president, has declared his intent to attack the enclave of Rojava, is a shocking betrayal of the Kurds, until now armed and supported by the US, who have been successfully fighting Isis in Syrian towns and villages throughout this conflict. |
The Kurds, in Syria and Turkey, and their long-imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, must be key participants in any peace process. Now, more than ever, they require the immediate support of the international community to protect them from annihilation. | The Kurds, in Syria and Turkey, and their long-imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, must be key participants in any peace process. Now, more than ever, they require the immediate support of the international community to protect them from annihilation. |
The UK, the main provider of arms to Erdoğan, must stop appeasing Turkey and selling it arms – and must use all its diplomatic clout to get Trump to cancel this order. Isis is not defeated and we must not yet again betray the Kurds, a people committed to peace and democracy.Margaret OwenLondon | The UK, the main provider of arms to Erdoğan, must stop appeasing Turkey and selling it arms – and must use all its diplomatic clout to get Trump to cancel this order. Isis is not defeated and we must not yet again betray the Kurds, a people committed to peace and democracy.Margaret OwenLondon |
• Turkey has said it will invade and destroy the quasi-independent Kurdish enclave of Rojava in northern Syria: the Kurds “will be buried in their ditches”, Turkish leaders have said. Surely the world cannot just stand by and watch this happen?Brendan O’BrienLondon | • Turkey has said it will invade and destroy the quasi-independent Kurdish enclave of Rojava in northern Syria: the Kurds “will be buried in their ditches”, Turkish leaders have said. Surely the world cannot just stand by and watch this happen?Brendan O’BrienLondon |
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition | • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition |
Kurds | Kurds |
Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
Syria | Syria |
Turkey | Turkey |
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
Bashar al-Assad | Bashar al-Assad |
letters | letters |
Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
Share via Email | Share via Email |
Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
Reuse this content | Reuse this content |
Previous version
1
Next version