Trump and Erdogan Regimes: Partners Against Syrian Sovereignty

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Trump and wannabe sultan Erdogan are warlords hostile to peace, stability, and the rule of law.

Neither can be trusted, both figures mortal enemies of what just societies hold dear.

On Saturday, a statement by Russia's Foreign Ministry defied reality in Syria, saying:

Moscow and Ankara "confirmed their determination to ease tensions 'on the ground' in the process of continuing (to fight) terrorists, designated as such by the UN Security Council, as well as to defend the civilian population both within and outside the (Idlib) deescalation zone and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to all who need it."

Using jihadists as proxy troops, Turkish aggression in Syria continues.

AMN News reported that a "large Turkish convoy entered Syria('s) (Idlib province) on Saturday" — including troops, tanks, armored vehicles, and other military equipment.

On the same day, Russian warplanes launched heavy strikes on US/Turkish supported jihadists that are combatting Syrian ground forces.

AMN News reported that Russian aerial support "will likely intensify…over northwestern Syria for the next few days, as (Syrian forces) await the arrival of more military equipment" from Russia.

At a Friday Security Council session on Syria, its UN envoy Bashar al-Jaafari accused the Erdogan regime of using so-called observation posts in the country's northwestern as platforms to aid jihadists attack government forces and civilians.

On Saturday, Southfront reported that an unverified video showed Turkish military personnel "torturing, beating and humiliating Syrian soldiers that had been captured by Turkish-backed" jihadists in Idlib.

Establishment media consistently suppress this type information, are quick to falsely blame Syrian forces for high crimes of war and against humanity committed by the US, its allied forces, and jihadists they support.

The US, its imperial partners, and cutthroat killer terrorist proxies bear full responsibility for endless war in Syria and other countries the Pentagon raped and destroyed.

On Saturday in response to US/Turkish aggression in Idlib, presidential aspirant Tulsi Gabbard tweeted the following:

Trump "needs to make it clear to NATO and Erdogan that the United States will not be dragged into a war with Russia by the aggressive, Islamist, expansionist dictator of Turkey, a so-called 'NATO' ally."

By video, she accused Erdogan of allying with al-Qaeda to advance his revanchist aims.

She denounced establishment media for referring to jihadists as "rebels, making them seem like freedom fighters," adding:

The Erdogan regime "has been supporting al-Qaeda (and other terrorists in Syria) for years…(aiming) to overthrow the Syrian government."

He's "working with al-Qaeda and other terrorists to reestablish an Ottoman empire."

Allied with "his al-Qaeda partners," he's a hugely dangerous "megalomaniac."

Gabbard called on Congress to pass her Stop Arming Terrorists Act.

Introduced in December 2016, it calls for "prohibit(ing) the US government from using American taxpayer dollars to provide funding, weapons, training, and intelligence support to groups like the Levant Front, Fursan al Ha and other allies of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, al-Qaeda and ISIS, or to countries who are providing direct or indirect support to those same groups."

At the time, Gabbard said the following on the House floor:

"Under US law, it is illegal for any American to provide money or assistance to al-Qaeda, ISIS or other terrorist groups." 

"If you or I gave money, weapons or support to al-Qaeda or ISIS, we would be thrown in jail." 

"Yet the US government has been violating this law for years, quietly supporting allies and partners of al-Qaeda, ISIL, Jabhat Fateh al Sham and other terrorist groups with money, weapons, and intelligence support, in their fight to overthrow the Syrian government."

"The CIA has also been funneling weapons and money through Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and others who provide direct and indirect support to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda." 

"This support has allowed al-Qaeda and their fellow terrorist organizations to establish strongholds throughout Syria, including in Aleppo."

"That is why I've introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists bill – legislation based on congressional action during the Iran-Contra affair to stop the CIA's illegal arming of rebels in Nicaragua."

The US created ISIS, al-Qaeda, and likeminded jihadist groups that are used as proxy forces in its war theaters, supported by Pentagon terror-bombing.

Erdogan uses jihadists the same way for his own self-interest.

On opposite sides of the US war in Syria, he and Putin reportedly will meet in Moscow later this week.

Breaching what he agreed to with Russia and Iran in Astana and Sochi showed his pledges are hollow.

His aggression in Syria risks rupturing relations with valued ally Putin.

Waging a war in Syria he can't win, he has much more to lose than gain by escalating it. 

His actions could isolate himself on the world stage by alienating Russia, the EU by letting refugees head to Europe, and the US when he no longer serves its interests.

Ruthless at home, expansionist abroad, and untrustworthy in dealings with other nations showed he's a menace on the world stage — risking regional or possible global war by escalating aggression in Syria.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html