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CJCRANE

(18,184 posts) Wed Oct 8, 2014, 02:24 PM Oct 2014

U.S.'s Kerry hints Kobani not strategic goal, buffer zone merits study [View all]

Source: Daily Mail UK

WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested on Wednesday that preventing the fall of the Syrian town of Kobani to Islamic State fighters was not a strategic U.S. objective and said the idea of a buffer zone should be thoroughly studied.

"As horrific as it is to watch in real time what is happening in Kobani ... you have to step back and understand the strategic objective," Kerry told reporters at a news conference with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

"Notwithstanding the crisis in Kobani, the original targets of our efforts have been the command and control centers, the infrastructure," he said. "We are trying to deprive the (Islamic State) of the overall ability to wage this, not just in Kobani but throughout Syria and into Iraq."

Kerry also said that he expected Turkey, which has demanded a no-fly zone, a buffer zone in Syria and greater effort against the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to decide "over the next hours, days" what role it may play against the Islamic State group, which the U.S. government refers to as ISIL.

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U.S.'s Kerry hints Kobani not strategic goal, buffer zone merits study [View all] CJCRANE Oct 2014 OP

The media is obsessed with Kobane, and Repubs/neocons have picked it up TwilightGardener Oct 2014 #1

Add in that response indirectly argues against the push for ground forces there from the US karynnj Oct 2014 #3

Turkey is trying to get some sort of leverage, and thus withholding help for Kobane and TwilightGardener Oct 2014 #6

Agreed, they are trying to force NATO to intervene and do their dirty work for them. freshwest Oct 2014 #11

It's long past time Turkey commit itself to fighting FOR THEIR national interest. blm Oct 2014 #2

Here, it complicated because Turkey's "national interests" include karynnj Oct 2014 #4

They sure are taking hits. Disgusting what Repukes and Panetta types will do flamingdem Oct 2014 #5

And I thought Obama said this was not a new war.... former9thward Oct 2014 #10

Turkey is an ally of ISIL. Kind of like the US was allies with the mujahadeen in Afghanistan. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #8

Turkey's inviting some serious blowback by acting as an ally of ISIL. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #7

They don't want to be our pawn footsoldiers in their volatile border region - can you blame them? Baclava Oct 2014 #9

Yes, I can blame them for siding with ISIL because they share religious fundamentalism geek tragedy Oct 2014 #13

right, 'when the U.S. snaps it's fingers all those lesser countries better do what we tell them!' Baclava Oct 2014 #15

So your argument is that Erdrogan doesn't deserve to be criticized for supporting ISIL. geek tragedy Oct 2014 #16

WE created ISIS, shouldn't we be the ones fighting them on the ground in our new Holy War? Baclava Oct 2014 #17

Turkey is actively aiding ISIL by letting ISIL move weapons and fighters across the border geek tragedy Oct 2014 #18

Turkey hates the Kurds more than it hates ISIS I guess - tribal warfare is like that Baclava Oct 2014 #19

Turkey had better not come crying to us when it reaps what it has sown nt geek tragedy Oct 2014 #20

You want US to be the world's policeman in perpetuity because of Bush? blm Oct 2014 #23

They want US to be their Air Force AND ground troops, though, don't they? blm Oct 2014 #22

There's still in NATO since they joined in 1952 and have worked with NATO. But their recent actions freshwest Oct 2014 #12

he's not allowing flyovers, last time I checked nt geek tragedy Oct 2014 #14

Ah, but they did for Bush. I stand corrected if they've changed the policy. I thought they'd allowed freshwest Oct 2014 #21