February 5, 2016

Turkish-Saudi Invasion of Syria Would Be A Huge Victory For ISIS

Erdogan is not a conqueror. He's an impostor whose arrogance has angered the gods. Falling off an Arabian horse was a bad omen. The reins of destiny are not in his grasp. If he decides to invade Syria he will fail miserably along with his Saudi and NATO allies.

An excerpt from, "Washington Post Op-Ed Calls for "Safe Zones" in Syria" by Tony Cartalucci, Land Destroyer Report, February 5, 2016:
Far from protecting civilians or addressing humanitarian concerns, the United States' actions in Libya devastated an entire nation and has left it in what will likely be decades of deadly, disruptive conflict. So poor are the prospects of the Libyan people, many have fled to neighboring states as well as across the Mediterranean to Europe - hence a contributing factor to the ongoing "migrant crisis."

America's last option in Syria will likewise divide and destroy the country should it succeed. It will condemn tens of thousands of civilians to violent sectarian-driven deaths and drive hundreds of thousands more out of Syria into neighboring countries and onward to Europe to escape the predictable chaos.

The only "safe haven" that will exist will be for terrorist factions ranging from the "moderate" Al Qaeda groups the US and its allies openly back, to the Islamic State which the West more covertly backs. As Libya has been used to destabilize and launch operations against its neighbors, so too will Syria - being aimed at the remnants of the Iraqi government, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and of course Iran itself.
An excerpt from, "Saudis provide cover for Turkey to start military operation in Syria" by Tamara Zamyatina, Tass, February 5, 2016:
On Thursday, a day after the Geneva talks on the Syrian settlement were suspended, Saudi Defense Minister, General Ahmed Asiri said that the armed forces of Saudi Arabia were ready for a ground operation in Syria as part of the US-led international coalition. This statement was welcomed by Pentagon Chief Ashton Carter. Saudi sources told The Guardian that thousands of special force fighters could be moved to Syria, possibly in coordination with Turkey.

However, the Saudi initiative is more like a propaganda cover for Turkey’s military activity on the border with Syria, Senior Researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Akhmetov said.

The expert referred to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman on Thursday that the ministry had serious grounds to suspect Turkey of making intensive preparations for military invasion into the territory of the sovereign state of Syria.

"Although Riyadh states about the intention to fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization, there are big doubts about that. It is more likely that the Saudis intend to provide support to those armed formations, which are fighting against the Syrian government forces. The point is that neither Saudi Arabia nor Turkey conceal that they are seeking to remove Bashar Assad from power. This is taking place at a time when Assad’s troops have started to actively change a balance of forces on the border with Turkey with the support of Russia’s air task force. So, Riyadh’s intention is to solve other tasks under the guise of the struggle against the Islamic State," Akhmetov told TASS. 
An excerpt from, "To the Rescue of ISIS: Turkey Prepares Ground Invasion of Syria" South Front, January 21, 2016:
There are growing indications that Turkey is preparing a ground invasion in Syria. The Turks are determined to make the so-called “buffer zone” stretching along the Syrian side of the Turkey-Syria border. It’s clear that Erdogan needs this zone to defend supply lines of the Ankara-backed terrorist groups and the oil smuggling business. It would also prevent the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) from expanding their reach westward.

In what could be a sign of this intent, Turkish minesweeping vehicles have started clearing mines along a section of the border near the Syrian town of Jarabulus controlled by ISIS. Turkey has also ramped up its artillery strikes along its border with Syria. The public reason is to help its militant allies against ISIS. Indeed, it’s another move heading to the buffer zone in Northern Syria. What prevent Turkey from a full-scale invasion, it’s a possible military answer of the Russian grouping located in Syria amid refuse of the US to support this risky choice.
An excerpt from, "Planned Turkish Invasion of Syria? In Close Liaison with Washington" by Stephen Lendman, Global Research, February 5, 2016:
Turkey wants evidence of its illegal military activities along the Syrian border suppressed. It denied a Russian observation flight over its territory, scheduled from February 1 – 5, permitted under the Open Skies Treaty (OST), up to a range of 1,900 km, with Turkish specialists onboard, after earlier expressing no pre-conditions or restrictions.

In 1992, 34 nations signed OST, effective in 2002, including Russia, America, Turkey, EU countries and Canada. Treaty objectives are to foster transparency, monitor fulfillment of arms control agreements, and improve capabilities to prevent crises.

Konashenkov called denying Russia’s legitimate right to conduct an observation flight over Turkish territory according to OST provisions “a dangerous precedent and an attempt to conceal illegal military activity near the border with Syria.”

Russian satellite and other intelligence can keep close watch on what Erdogan may intend, including possible cross-border belligerence against Syria.