******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. *****************************************************************
The PYD and SDF have for some time been calling on all Kurds in Syria, as well as people of other ethnicities, to unite against the Turkish invasion. In Iraq, the PKK has made similar calls for Kurdish unity against the Turkish invasion. The US has supported discussions aimed at improving relations between the PYD and the KNC in the case of Syria. But in the case of Iraq the US does not support any discussions involving the PKK. The US remains hostile to the PKK, and has never (as far as I am aware) made any criticism of Turkish bombing and ground invasions of northern Iraq. I don't claim to fully understand US policy. But I think it results from trying to pursue several different objectives at once. US motives include opposition to the PKK, worry about the revival of ISIS, rivalry with Russia, and hostility to Iran. When ISIS captured large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, the US was worried. It needed local allies. In northern Iraq it had the Kurdistan Regional Government, a long-term ally with fairly strong military forces. But in Syria there was no equivalent, so it decided to cooperate with the YPG, and later the SDF. After ISIS had lost most of its territory in Syria, Trump started to withdraw US troops. This enabled Turkey to invade north-eastern Syria in October 2019. The Autonomous Administration asked for Russian help in deterring further Turkish advances. The US, perhaps worried at the prospect of expanding Russian influence in north-eastern Syria, decided not to withdraw completely. Now the US is supporting talks between the PYD and the KNC. But I would not over-emphasise the US role in these talks. The Kurdish people want unity against the Turkish invasion. Chris Slee ________________________________ From: Marxism <marxism-boun...@lists.csbs.utah.edu> on behalf of mkaradjis . via Marxism <marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> Sent: Thursday, 2 July 2020 9:43 PM To: Chris Slee <chris_w_s...@hotmail.com> Cc: mkaradjis . <mkarad...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Marxism] Solidarity needed amid ongoing Turkish aggression against Kurds (Green Left) ******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. ***************************************************************** Hi Chris, I wonder what you and others think is going on with the US push to get the PYD/SDF together with Kurdish National Council? On Thu, Jul 2, 2020 at 2:04 PM Chris Slee via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > ******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > ***************************************************************** > > > https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/solidarity-needed-amid-ongoing-turkish-aggression-against-kurds > _________________________________________________________ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: > https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/mkaradjis%40gmail.com > _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/chris_w_slee%40hotmail.com _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
