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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Kurdish-Americans Appeal for US Action in Kobane
2014-10-07
NEW YORK - Kurdish-American campaigners are pressuring the US Government to better support embattled Syrian Kurds in Kobane, where Islamic State (IS) fighters are making gains against the holdouts.

Kurdish-Americans across the US have appealed to Senators to boost support for Syrian Kurds who are defending Kobane – a Kurdish town near the Syria-Turkey border – from IS, the sectarian Sunni militia that is also known as ISIS and ISIL.

“Kobane has been surrounded for almost two weeks; the latest reports indicate that the city is under heavy bombardment and parts of the city may have fallen,” says a campaign letter that has circulated among hundreds of Kurdish-Americans.

“If democratic nations fail to provide immediate military support to Kurdish fighters, Kobane will suffer the same tragic fate as Shingal,” it adds, referring to the massacres of Christian minorities in Iraq this summer.
It does rather seem as though Champ is unconcerned about the plight of the Kurds even as he talks tough about stopping the IS. You'd think he'd be more than happy to let the Kurds do his fighting for him. Wonder what Erdogan has on him?
IS forces have besieged Kobane for nearly three weeks, forcing more than 160,000 civilians, mostly Kurds, to flee into Turkey. US-led forces have carried out airstrikes on IS forces around Kobane but have not halted their advance.

Washington’s approach to Kobane is influenced by that of its NATO ally, Turkey, which has authorized the use of military force in Syria and Iraq but is reluctant to help Syrian Kurds, who have links with Turkey’s own restive Kurdish population.
It's more than that. Erdogan has something on Champ...
Last week, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel rejected plans for a “buffer zone” in which Turkish troops would defend a protected area some 10 kilometers into Syria that includes Kobane, which is also known as Ayn al-Arab in Arabic.

“We continue to talk with the Turkish government about many options. But there are no plans for that option right now,” Hagel told reporters on Friday.

But many Kurdish-Americans demand tougher and faster action from Washington. Dr Amir Sharifi, a linguistics lecturer at California State University, said that abandoning Kobane’s Kurds would be a betrayal of liberal values.

“The world agrees that it should be stopped, but is the world community genuinely taking action to prevent IS from committing another massacre in Kobane?” Sharifi told Rudaw. “Kobane should become a rallying point for the struggle against the Islamist fascism.”
Posted by:Steve White

#9  Indigenous air support takes a lot of time talent and tech. Artillery does not, just good supply lines, decent comma and good spotters. That's why the Kurds need artillery. We can get gun crews trained up quicker than anything, including armor. And with a good range and enough tubes, artillery can stop ISIS dead. Especially with US spotting counter battery from overhead.

Militarily, it just makes sense. Which means politics is why its not happening.
Posted by: OldSpook   2014-10-07 18:52  

#8  If the 82nd is busy, drop in some ROK's (Republic of Korea) infantry and simply forego the Turk link-up.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-10-07 14:11  

#7  Would be cool to drop at brigade of the 82nd in behind ISIS vicinity Kobane at about 0300 in the morning. Tell the Bde Cdr to simply push to the Turkish border killing everything in sight, link-up with the Turks, have a beer & BBQ, and fly back to Bragg for a three day pass.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-10-07 13:46  

#6  OK, but can't we at least send them some Obama-phones and EBT cards?
Posted by: SteveS   2014-10-07 13:21  

#5  Ain't like you can open a box of Instant Close Air Support.
Instant is the last word I'd think of about this mess. More like the Hundred Years' War (1337 to 1453) over France.
Posted by: Glenmore   2014-10-07 12:34  

#4  At least a year if they have pilots with jet experience. Two, if you want them to be proficient. They also need trained maintenance support. Also, trained Kurdish Forward Air Controllers, comms equipment, etc.

Ain't like you can open a box of Instant Close Air Support.
Posted by: Pappy   2014-10-07 12:23  

#3  Give the Kurds artillery and heavy weaponry.
How long would it take us to teach them to fly those A-10s our Air Force doesn't want anymore?
Posted by: Glenmore   2014-10-07 07:36  

#2  ISIS is coming in with artillery, armored vehicles (including tanks and APCs). All the Kurds have are small arms and some mortars. And US forces flying at 30,000 feet dropping bombs only when and where the lawyers say.

Give the Kurds artillery and heavy weaponry. They've only been asking for it for years.
Posted by: OldSpook   2014-10-07 02:17  

#1  The Kurds are claiming that the US-led airstrikes isn't stopping ISIS/ISIL on the ground - the latter in the meantime have repor taken a few neighborhoods in Kobani from Kurd resistance, + have hoisted their black flags over same.

The ISIS/ISIL have made direct threats agz the US + have killed American hostages - AFAIC the Bammer is already more than justified in sending US troops back to Iraq andor into Syria.

The prob for the Kurds is that, as a OWG Globalist, the Bammer may be more interested in empowering + having Co-Superpower IRAN, Other? take the lead in the ME.

E.g. the recent HEZBOLLAH-VS-AL-NUSRA fight in Lebanon.

To be sure, ISRAEL + US Muslim Allies are feeling twitchy.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-10-07 00:33  

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