We'll deal with Manbij first: There is no deal. And there is never going to be one the US will be willing to make and stick with that will win the trust of Turkey back! Even if the US made a 'deal' could they be trusted to follow through? Did all of us not just witness the P5+ 1 deal go to the wayside? And that agreement involved many powerful nations! Why would anyone, anywhere actually think the US would make a legitimate deal with Turkey?! Each side is buying time and playing perception management. Turkey’s election is coming up... My suspicion is that the US is going to try to heavily influence the election. There’s been little clues scattered throughout mainstream media reports that have raised my suspicions.More of the latest "news" regarding the ‘Manbij deal”
“The U.S. and Turkish military officials who participated in the discussions agreed on a proposed Manbij implementation plan that will be recommended to senior U.S. and Turkish leadership for further discussions,” it read.
Further discussions- If there was a done deal would there be further discussions?Defense Post
“A State Department official told The Defense Post: “As we have said, the implementation of the road map will be based on the conditions on the ground in a phase by phase approach. We are committed to a sustainable long-term arrangement in Manbij that ensures stability and security, while also addressing Turkey’s concerns. Further details of that arrangement will be determined during the implementation process. I have nothing further to offer on diplomatic discussions regarding this ongoing process.”
An ongoing process does not a deal make!Absolute rubbish from the YPG/PKK/SDF regarding their theatrical fight against ISIS
“We fought for all of humanity. We paid a lot to defeat ISIS in this area and in Syria so we are hopeful to find a political solution. “
Yup, they fought for all of humanity- Suuureeee.... Now that all of humanity has been saved by the fierce Kurdish warriors, I can sleep soundly knowing that peace, love and understanding will be the order of the day. Seriously? And people believe this garbage? Anywhere on this planet?
East of the Euphrates...
This area was discussed at the blog long ago as the most acceptable to all area to settle the Syrian situation- temporarily. That means no one party will be happy. There will not be a permanent peace. However, things could quiet down for a time. That’s it. That was then. At this point in time... based on the situation on going. To the best of my knowledge, I suspect that East of the Euphrates as the Kurdish autonomous zone is off the table completely. USrael entity can not abide by this. They want and need the Israel 2.0 entity to exist- complete to the Mediterranean.I suspect east of the Euphrates as an offer to the Syrian government is a ruse. It may be the means in which the Kurds feel they can encourage the USrael war machine to fully commit to their unholy alliance. You know to take it all the way?! That said, it's doubtful the USrael needs this encouragement from the Kurds. More likely the Kurds are playing the Syrian government off against the Turks, perhaps Iran, with Usrael standing behind them.To my mind Usrael is committed to going all the way. Which might be why I've been reading reports of more Kosovars making their way to Syria:Link and LinkThink about the KLA. The KLA, Madeline Albright & Richard Holbrooke. The KLA and their myraid of ties to the Usrael war machine and human/organ smuggling.What Solution Awaits East of the Euphrates?
Details about the direction of the country’s northeast have started to become clearer. The so-called Syrian Democratic Council, which is the political face of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) supported by the United States, set out their position, explaining that they plan to take control over the eastern Euphrates in order to implement the Western project that aims to divide Syria.A spokesman announced the council’s readiness for talks with the legitimate central government in Damascus, without preconditions, to reach a solution for the eastern Euphrates area.This was a clear response to the comments made by President Assad in a recent interview with the Mail on Sunday, in which he said that now the Syrian Arab Army was in control of broad parts of the country, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were “the one remaining problem.” He added that the government has two options for dealing with them— either dialogue or a military solution. It seems that the Kurdish parties are heading toward the first choice, which Damascus has welcomed, while remaining in a state of readiness to head towards a military solution, which is not out of the question. This could quickly be resorted to in the event that Kurdish groups are not serious about returning the area to the embrace of the state.Along with this development, the Kurdish parties are quickly grabbing on Damascus’s initiative and their position regarding foreign intervention in Syria, and it seems the Americans have tried to work through various avenues to derail the option of dialogue if it is opened, or the option of military action if it is resorted to. In recent hours a number of actions have been taken by America, either directly or through its proxies, to impede Syrian efforts to complete the liberation of remaining Syrian territory and restore security and stability to the country.In the context of American aggression, attacks carried out by the Islamic State, which have clear American support and have targeted Syrian military centers between Deir ez-Zor and Albu Kamal. It is true that the Syrian Arab Army and its allies have crushed these attacks, but the fact they were carried out, with American support, has a meaning that cannot be ignored.From another angle, America has very crudely put pressure on the Kurds in order to prevent them from entering into dialogue with the Syrian government because America views the opening of dialogue as an impediment to its efforts and plans to divide the country and retain a presence east of the Euphrates.
The area east of the Euphrates seems to have been put in the line of fire, between the Syrian government’s decision to liberate the area and the aggressive American decision to continue to occupy the region — but Syria’s determination to establish its regional unity whatever the obstacles has become clear and the coming days will certainly see the implementation of this determination.
It's will be interesting to say how this is going to play out? The Manbij deal ruse is but one part of the entire potential scenario at play. The Turkish election is a factor. As for east of the Euphrates the PKK/YPG/SDF are most likely reaching out to Assad to encourage Turkey to opt out of it’s agreements with Russia and Iran. Sow discord. Nothing Usrael/Kurds would love more then to increase the conflict in the region. It's going to be an interesting June!