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| The Grand Turk |
| Turkey shelters the Free Syrian Army |
| 2011-10-28 |
| Turkey is hosting an armed opposition group waging an insurgency against the government of Syria, providing shelter to the commander and dozens of members of the group, the Free Syrian Army, and permitting them to coordinate attacks across the border from inside a camp protected by the Turkish military. The support for the rebels comes amid a wider Turkish campaign to undermine AssadÂ’s government. Turkey is soon expected to impose sanctions on Syria, and it has increased its support for an umbrella political opposition group known as the Syrian National Council, which announced its formation in Istanbul. The harboring of leaders in the Free Syrian Army, composed of defectors from the Syrian armed forces, may be its most noteworthy challenge so far. On Wednesday, the group claimed responsibility for killing nine Syrian soldiers, including a uniformed officer, in an attack in central Syria. Turkey once viewed its close ties with Syria as a great foreign policy accomplishment, but relations have disintegrated over the antigovernment protests there and the brutal crackdown. Erdogan was personally offended by AssadÂ’s repeated refusal to keep his promises to undertake sweeping reform. Turkish officials believe that the Assad government may collapse within the next two years. Analyst Hugh Pope called TurkeyÂ’s apparent relationship with the Free Syrian Army "completely new territory." He said,"This pushes Turkish policy further towards active intervention in Syria. It is clear Turkey feels under threat from what is happening in the Middle East, particularly Syria." Pope noted that in speeches Mr. Erdogan "has spoken of what happens in Syria as an internal affair of Turkey." |
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| #4 Well within the last 48 hours Syria has laid mines at its borders with Jordan and Turkey. DEBKAfile Exclusive Report Also: "Bashar Assad fears he is facing Arab military intervention backed by NATO". |
| Posted by: Dale 2011-10-28 14:38 |
| #3 Offering protection is going to cost some goodwill points with Syria. At this point, I doubt that Erdogan & his people are especially worried about what Syria might do to them. Assad and the Alawi can't win any points by retaliating against Sunni Turks the way they can by pestering Israel or beating on Lebanon. There's no PR or street value in supporting the PKK, or some remnant Turkish al-Queda outfit, or ginning up a new evil. I *am* a bit surprised how quickly the Iran-Turkey understanding went to shit, though. In the regional picture, Syria is becoming a cockpit, not a player. Iran *is* a player, and if I were Erdogan, the mullahs are the ones I'd be leery of pushing too far. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2011-10-28 11:13 |
| #2 either Iran will have to write off Assad or they will be ticked mightily at Turkey |
| Posted by: Lord Garth 2011-10-28 10:53 |
| #1 Offering protection is going to cost some goodwill points with Syria. I guess the PKK might get some assistance from Syria (yes that is a stretch). The Russians I think will stay out of this. This does sound like something Erdogan would do. With the Greek money problems what has become of Greek Cyprus?. They are having financial problems also and need the gas revenue. The reunification of Cyprus I guess is on hold. |
| Posted by: Dale 2011-10-28 08:12 |