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Turkey’s Assault on Kurds Abandoned by U.S. Turkey’s Assault on Kurds Abandoned by U.S.
(12 days later)
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Re “Turkey Attacks U.S. Ally in Syria” (front page, Oct. 10):Re “Turkey Attacks U.S. Ally in Syria” (front page, Oct. 10):
Let’s make no mistake about what Turkish forces are doing in Syria this week — naked unilateral aggression and illegal by any international norms. And it is aided and abetted by our commander in chief.Let’s make no mistake about what Turkish forces are doing in Syria this week — naked unilateral aggression and illegal by any international norms. And it is aided and abetted by our commander in chief.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have made no offensive or threatening moves against Turkey, nor is there any indication they intend to. That they have connections to the P.K.K. (deemed terrorist by Washington and Ankara) is hardly a valid reason for Turkey to claim that it has a legitimate right to begin an all-out invasion across an international border. In fact the Syrian Democratic Forces are our most effective partner in fighting ISIS in Syria.The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have made no offensive or threatening moves against Turkey, nor is there any indication they intend to. That they have connections to the P.K.K. (deemed terrorist by Washington and Ankara) is hardly a valid reason for Turkey to claim that it has a legitimate right to begin an all-out invasion across an international border. In fact the Syrian Democratic Forces are our most effective partner in fighting ISIS in Syria.
The dissembling statements coming from the White House are remarkable in their distance from reality: “They didn’t help us in the Second World War.” Neither did Germany, now one of our staunchest European allies.The dissembling statements coming from the White House are remarkable in their distance from reality: “They didn’t help us in the Second World War.” Neither did Germany, now one of our staunchest European allies.
“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey.” If Mr. Trump was not aware of the imminent deaths among our Kurdish allies and civilians, then perhaps the national security adviser to President Barack Obama, Susan Rice, was right to ask in a CNN interview, “What is he smoking?”“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey.” If Mr. Trump was not aware of the imminent deaths among our Kurdish allies and civilians, then perhaps the national security adviser to President Barack Obama, Susan Rice, was right to ask in a CNN interview, “What is he smoking?”
Glenn RugaConcord, Mass.The writer is executive editor of Zeke magazine, which has published stories about Syria, and founder of Social Documentary Network.Glenn RugaConcord, Mass.The writer is executive editor of Zeke magazine, which has published stories about Syria, and founder of Social Documentary Network.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Three months ago, I was deployed with the United States Army in northern Syria to an area that Turkey just attacked. It is possible that some of my counterparts in the Syrian Democratic Forces whom I met, who sacrificed much and led the way in fighting ISIS, are dead.Three months ago, I was deployed with the United States Army in northern Syria to an area that Turkey just attacked. It is possible that some of my counterparts in the Syrian Democratic Forces whom I met, who sacrificed much and led the way in fighting ISIS, are dead.
President Trump is right that we need to end “endless wars.” We should have never been in Iraq. We certainly should not be aiding Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. But allowing Turkey to wipe out the Kurds will not end a war; rather, it courts disaster. Is keeping our promises to our allies too much to ask?President Trump is right that we need to end “endless wars.” We should have never been in Iraq. We certainly should not be aiding Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. But allowing Turkey to wipe out the Kurds will not end a war; rather, it courts disaster. Is keeping our promises to our allies too much to ask?
Alan KennedyDenverThe writer is a captain in the Colorado Army National Guard. Alan KennedyDenverThe writer is a captain in the Colorado Army National Guard. The views expressed are his own.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
President Trump has utterly abandoned our Kurdish allies, and his track record consistently shows that he only does things that benefit him financially, politically or both. What kind of devilish deal did Mr. Trump make with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan?President Trump has utterly abandoned our Kurdish allies, and his track record consistently shows that he only does things that benefit him financially, politically or both. What kind of devilish deal did Mr. Trump make with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
This sure looks as if it is all about increasing Turkish and/or Russian power and influence in the Middle East. And we all know that Mr. Trump does not do anything for altruistic reasons. So what’s in it for Donald J. Trump?This sure looks as if it is all about increasing Turkish and/or Russian power and influence in the Middle East. And we all know that Mr. Trump does not do anything for altruistic reasons. So what’s in it for Donald J. Trump?
Stephen J. CammarataIrvine, Calif.Stephen J. CammarataIrvine, Calif.