Turkey says Syrian town poised to fall to Islamic State fighters

No worries, the People's Liberation Army is going to save the day!

Quote: "And while Turkey said just days ago that it wouldn’t let Kobani fall, there’s no indication the government is prepared to make a major move to save it."

The Turkish Prime Minister said exactly this, and it was quoted here on JT just a few days ago. I remember taking comfort in his words.

Just empty rhetoric, then?

Particularly bitter for the Syrian Kurds, I can imagine.

The question that has to be asked and my worry is what will happen to the civilian population living there?

Turkey will open the border temporarily, Speed, and let the walking in, but probably they will have to hand their cars and houses over to IS, as in other border towns and villages.

Speed:

" The question that has to be asked and my worry is what will happen to the civilian population living there? "

Is that a trick question? Same as to civilian populations everywhere in the ISIS state. They accept ISIS rule or die, period. And those who are not Sunni muslim, convert to Sunni islam or die too. Pretty simple, really.

In the event, I find the cynicism of the Turkish government shocking, albeit not surprising.

If only Bill Maher and Ben Affleck could just SIT down there on the Turkey-Syria border and have an OPEN CHAT with all sides, then PEACE would just rain down on that part of the world! (I wish it could be that easy!) But really folks, TURKEY, along with Iraq, Iran, etc..are AFRAID of having some new COUNTRY that is run by KURDS, since the the Turks etc...have been fighting the PKK etc..for many years. Does anybody really believe that ANKARA is really that worried about the Kurdish civilians??

If Turkey is so concerned they should send in their tanks that are just over the border just sitting there. But Turkey wants to get rid of Assad who is the legitimate and real leader of his country and so Turkey is using the poor people who are at risk as hostages in their high stakes game of risk. Lets hope they dont have to deal with all of the people from that city if it falls.

Clearly, none of the supposed "world powers" or "concerned" countries in Arabia or Turkey are "all in". Sadly, it's the Kurds and Shia in Iraq who are committing and shedding blood to even try to stop the advance, let alone avoid beheadings for themselves and family. Ironically, it is the same Kurds and Shia who stand the most to lose if they're successful.

Let's consider the full capabilities of the "coalition" in the diplomatic, intelligence and information, military and economic realms. Let's imagine that they were truly a coalition and "all in". How long would would it take to destroy their military capabilities, eliminate their funding, and creat conditions for their defeat? Probably not long.

But, the bigger question and challenge is what are coalition partners willing to do to, what lengths are they willing to go to, what sacrifices are they willing to make and what consensus can be reached to create a lasting peace and make peace more attractive and worthwhile I an alternative when compared to terror and destruction for those of the Muslim faith? Or is this merely a continuation of a never ending internal struggle within Islam taken to a new level?

Turkey hopes the Assad regime along its long southern border will go and a new Syrian system will replace it.

They were happy to support a mixture of rebel opposition to head up this new Syria, but when it became clear that IS may be their new permanent neighbo(u)r, they may be not so happy, but they must be calculating that one day they will have to accept the reality and establish diplomatic and trade ties with this Kurd-free new entity. In fact, much underground trade in illicit oil/diesel etc. has already been going on. Turkey is trying to be pragmatic in the face of terrible strains in all directions.

Why do they so desperately want a no-fly zone along their common border? Will IS eventually be airborne?

Interesting article which helps explain the complexities.. http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5877570?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics&partner=skygrid

Thanks, 2rings

This is useful, too: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/-sp-middle-east-politics-2014-egypt-syria-palestine-iraq-gaza

It says a lot about Obama's air power coalition and the fantasy free Syrian army in the making, about a year from today! It seems Obama's policy in defeating ISIS is to pass on the problem to the next presidency. Also, Turkey really shows the Muslim hearts for these suffering Kurds as a member of NATO? How complex the problem maybe, someone must steps on the ring! Or just hang in there to pass on the burden to next in line, and that is the anointed one's strategy? Wow!!!!

Kind of funny that some commenters first lambast "Fox" for being politically biased, and then recommend links to.... the Huffpost and the Guardian. Bias-free.... yeah right.

There are reports that IS leaders are deliberately putting their foreign fighters in the front line. Inability to speak the local language means they should be able to hear no pleas and to kill without mercy.

I suspect another reason must be to test their loyalty, resolve and willingness to die and go to the Islamic quarter in Heaven.

In the meantime I wonder if IS will continue to pay out those promised salaries to their relatives and return their passports?

Yeah, these things tend to happen when you refuse to do anything to stop the threat at your borders.

A possible strategy would be to let Erdogan know that since Turkey can't protect the Syrian Kurds then the US will support the formation of a Kurdish state. They might start fighting just to have more say in the matter.

Zaphod,

Kind of funny that some commenters first lambast "Fox" for being politically biased, and then recommend links to.... the Huffpost and the Guardian. Bias-free.... yeah right.

What's the bias in the articles. Can you kindly flag it up for us?

What are the airstrikes actually aiming at? Are IS waving a black flag to a bull?

IS just wants to do to the West that the West did to the muslim world during the crusades.

gokai_wo_maneku:

" IS just wants to do to the West that the West did to the muslim world during the crusades. "

Syria is "the West"? What definition do you use?

"But Turkey wants to get rid of Assad who is the legitimate and real leader of his country"

Yeah, Assad legitimately inherited the position of dictator from his pappy, who held the position for decades.

Serrano:

" Yeah, Assad legitimately inherited the position of dictator from his pappy, who held the position for decades. "

Yes, and both Assad Sr. and his pappy. were keeping a lid on the Jihadis just as we so desparately wish someone would do now.

And both Assad Jr. and his pappy and protected the existance of Yazidis, Christians, Maneans, Druzes, and other minorities. Compare that to what our "democratic opposition", aka ISIS is doing.

Which do you prefer, I wonder?

@gokai_wo_maneku

I could not help but notice that your comments hillight history, wars fought and lost, past grivences, etc. In short, such comments only seek to deflect from the realities of what is happening today especially when you use references from almost 1,000 years ago.

I agree that history has a part, and perhaps a bigger part then the US wishes to admit to, when it comes to some of the frustration at the "West" as its involvement in middle eastern affiars (eg. overt & covert political/para-military/military involvement in Iran & Iraq more recently, going back to the fall of the Shah in Iran) has produced less then stellar results and has contributed to where we find ourselves today. Suffice it to say, many "Western" countries have been involved in shaping middle eastern governance & affiars going back to British colonial rule and perhaps even further (my apologies as I'm not a versed historian). But put in context, when compared with self-rule of such nations for lack of a better term (or more autonomy), human rights were advocated for and protected, attrocities such as mass killings based upon religious affiliation (Suni, Shia, Christian, Jew, and all of their variations) and the like were infrequent though admitedly I'm sure that they still occurred as the region seems to be rife with such events even without outside influence.

I have read articles discussing the cultural contribution to the friction that's ongoing, or the "clash of cultures" and believe that it has a role as Western ideals and cultures, though varied, are different then those in the Middle East. Then there is the religious contribution which plays a big role in the conflict.

What I'm hoping to convey, is that we are where we are and even though history plays a part with respect to Western activities and influence in the region, culture, religion, etc., none of them excuse or even come remotely close to being justified or rationalized with what ISIS/ISL is doing. This is October 8th, 2014 and beheading of innocent volunteers (seeking to help others of different faiths, but mainly innocent mulsims who are affected and displaced due to the ongoing war in Syrian & now ISIS/ISL) due to their nationality and religious afiliation (Western/Christian), mass killings of enemy combatants (Syrian & Kurd), killing of innocent people (Muslim, Christian, etc) due to their religious afiliation and more has no place in our world regardless of your faith, nationality, culture, etc. Seeking to justify or rationalize such barbarity and devaluing of human life in the name of one's faith and belief verbally or otherwise is indirectly supporting and enabling such attrocities via the invisible hand. We are fast approaching a point where sides must be chosen not based on religion, culture, nationality, etc. but by a shared belief that there is a sanctity to life, to the belief that all are created equal, have human rights that are to be protected and defended when faced with death due to one's beliefs, views, etc. We must all look in the mirror, look at our families and friends, take a moment of pause to reflect and ask ourselves, what side are we on (right now, October 8th, 2014)?

Turkey says Syrian town poised to fall to Islamic State fighters

Why don't you send your Army and fight against ISIS instead of talking? Turkey Government is waiting for US to come to defend its country. Turkey will regret for not defending Kobane and fighting against ISIS when ISIS start marching toward Turkey.

Why do they so desperately want a no-fly zone along their common border?

Most likely to discourage Assad’s air force from defending their national border from Turkish incursions.

IS just wants to do to the West that the West did to the muslim world during the crusades.

If Da’esh was setting up its Caliphate in the EU then maybe you would have a point. Remember that historically the great Muslim hero of the crusades, Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb (Saladin) who defeated the Crusader army and re-captured Jerusalem was in fact a Kurd. So how is killing Kurds and conquering their territory; somehow payback to the West for anything.

well, what are the Turks going to do about it, wait for IS to set up shop north of the border?

gelendestrasse:

" well, what are the Turks going to do about it, wait for IS to set up shop north of the border? "

Nope, you can bet that Erdogan will stop them very firmly at the Turkish border. Did you see his long line tanks lined up just outside Kobani? Meanwhile, he is happy to watch ISIS both massacre the Syrian Kurds and attack Assads Alavite government. From Erdogans point of view, what is there to complain about?

IS is wining with the western secret blessing and Turkey is not going to stop them for the same reason, they want their Kurdish problem taken care of. Western axis of evil wants to get rid if Assad at any cost. Just as in the case of Iraq and Libya they want to get rid of strong stable government and replace it with the weak easy to control and to exploit one. Obvious to everyone is that they are doing a stupid thing but this is they way NATO western members operate, so much greed and power that they are completely blind to see the reality around them and instead they are leading world in to the general chaos and economic and ecological disaster. Encouraging terrorism is their way to achieve what they should not strive for in the first place. Another proof of their stupid white man Nazi attitude is the situation with Ebola. While they had the means to stop this as soon first few people died, they quietly waited and happily counted the deaths of black Africans and purposely did nothing to help. Only now that the epidemic has spread to the white lands they are starting to panic, now that is almost to late. So IS will win and so will Ebola.