U.S. troops patrol near Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Rodi Said/File Photo
Wall Street Journal: Turkey Seeks Major U.S. Military Support to Adopt Fight in Syria
Plan for Turkey to take lead in fight against Islamic State could require more U.S. force, not less, officials say
WASHINGTON—Turkey is asking the U.S. to provide substantial military support, including airstrikes, transport and logistics, to allow Turkish forces to assume the main responsibility for fighting Islamic State militants in Syria, senior U.S. officials say.
The Turkish requests are so extensive that, if fully met, the American military might be deepening its involvement in Syria instead of reducing it, the officials added. That would frustrate President Trump’s goal of transferring the mission of finishing off Islamic State to Turkey in the hope of forging an exit strategy for the U.S. military to leave Syria.
Discussions on how Turkey might take over the Syria mission will take place in the Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday amid widespread skepticism at the Pentagon that Turkey can adequately replicate the U.S. mission.
Participants will include White House national security adviser John Bolton; Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs; and James Jeffrey, the State Department envoy for Syria.
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WNU Editor: It looks like Turkey did not get the message that U.S. forces are leaving Syria, not escalating the fight. Bottom line. It looks like Turkey has gamed out what would be necessary to subjugate the Kurds in north-eastern Syria while battling ISIS militants .... and they found out that the cost would be enormous. What is worse is the real possibility of being stuck in a quagmire with no end game in sight. The Americans can easily leave, but for the Turks this is their backyard.
