Generational Dynamics World View

[John J. Xenakis]

** 12-Aug-2019 World View: US and Turkey to create a 'bufferf zone' in northeast Syria

• Map of Syria, showing Turkey's proposed buffer zone in
  northeast Syria (Telegraph)

A US delegation arrived in Turkey on Monday to discuss creation of a
"Joing Command Center" in Turkey to oversee the creation of a
"buffer zone" in northeastern Syria. The meeting will take place
in Sanliurfa, Turkey, near the border with Syria.

The US is insisting on this plan, rather than Turkey's plan for a
unilateral invasion of northeast Syria to push back the Kurdish
People's Protection Units (YPG), which were allies of the US in
defeating ISIS. Turkey's government considers the YPG to be
terrorists, allied with the terror group Turkistan Workers' Party
(PKK).

The YPG were the fighters who did the actual fighting that
destroyed the ISIS caliphate in northeast Syria. The US provided
air support and heavy weapons. Turkey particularly objects to
the YPG having possession of these heavy weapons which, they claim,
can now be turned on Turkey, since the fight with ISIS is over.

Turkey has for years been threatening to invade northern Syria to
establish a 20-25 mile buffer zone within Syria along its northern
border with Turkey. Turkey has never carried through with this
threat, but now seems determined to do so, now that the US has been
withdrawing its military.

If Turkey goes through with its threat to enter Syria and unilaterally
push back the YPG from Turkey's border, it could lead to a prolonged
war between Turkey and the YPG, and the United States military may be
forced to intervene.

The Joint Command Center could be online in a few days. The US,
Turkey and the Kurds have all agreed in principle to establish a
buffer zone. However, there are some serious disagreements. The
Kurds would like it to be 5 miles wide, while the Turks want it 25
miles wide. There are also disagreements about who will be in charge,
and what role the YPG will play.

The Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus is categorically rejecting the
establishment of a buffer zone under control of Turkey and the US,
calling it "a blatant aggression on Syria’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity."

---- Sources:

-- US, Turkey begin work to create Syria buffer zone
https://www.france24.com/en/20190812-us-...uffer-zone
(AFP, 12-Aug-2019)

-- US and Turkey start work on Syria border zone
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/08/12/sy...on-turkey/
(Defense Post, 12-Aug-2019)

-- Intel: Why a military confrontation between Turkey and the Kurds in
Syria might be good news for Russia
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origina...ussia.html
(Al Monitor, 12-Aug-2019)

-- Turkey can act on its own in northern Syria if US plan fails:
Defense Minister
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/other-p...ter-145726
(Hurriyet, 12-Aug-2019)

-- Syria strongly condemns continued destructive US interference in
its affairs and rejects US-Turkish understandings
https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=170065
(Sana, Damascus, 26-Jul-2019)


-- Turkey to 'rip apart terror corridor' in Syria regardless of US
talks: Erdogan
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/26072019
(Rudaw, Kurdistan 26-Jul-2019)

-- US warns Turkey on Syria amid last-ditch talks to resolve buffer
zone dispute
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origina...-zone.html
(Al Monitor, 6-Aug-2019)

-- Syria government ‘categorically rejects’ US-Turkey buffer zone
plans
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/08/08/sy...ffer-zone/
(Defense Post, 8-Aug-2019)

-- Turkey’s demand for a Syria buffer zone is about oil, not terror
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opini...not-terror
(Washington Examiner, 31-Jul-2019)

-- Turkish assault on Kurdish-held Syria averted after agreement with
US on 'safezone'
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08...-safezone/
(Telegraph, London, 7-Aug-2019)