More than 1,600 Turkmens flee from intensifying Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes

[uhnope]

Source: Daily Sabah

key's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced on Sunday that more than 1,600 Syrian Turkmens crossed the Turkish border in the last two days to escape Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes. Villages and towns around Syria's Mount Turkmen have been hit from three surrounding hills, as the regime seized the strategic area in Latakia.

Syrian Turkmen National Movement Party Vice Chairman Tarık Sülo Cevizci said that civilians in the Bayırbucak region started to flee to Turkey when rumors that the Syrian regime was mounting a ground offensive. He said that it is impossible to stand against the bombing, which intensifies daily.

"Villages have been bombed from hill number 45 and the Kızıldağ and Burc Kasab hills. Mount Turkmen has fallen into the hands of the regime. Civilians are leaving the region due to rumors that civilians will be killed in a ground operation by [President Bashar] Assad's regime," he said.

According to Cevizci, the regime has not been able to widen its area of impact for the last three months despite Russia's intensified bombings, and is now only mounting an offensive on Mount Turkmen to strengthen its hand against the opposition at the Syrian peace talks in Geneva. "This place has strategic importance. If no solution-based conclusion comes out of the talks and each party in Syria establishes its own state, Assad wants to see the Mount Turkmen area within Alawite borders. If North Kurdistan is established, this place would be a door opening to the Mediterranean region" Cevizci said.

Read more: http://www.dailysabah.com/syrian-crisis/2016/01/31/more-than-1600-turkmens-flee-from-intensifying-russian-and-syrian-regime-airstrikes

---

Assad. Putin.
War criminals.

[newthinking]

1. The Turkmen were helping the trafficking of money, oil, and ISIS fighters

Russia and Syria are sealing off the border, which is key to weakening ISIS.

[Sunlei]

3. willie-nillie bombing of villages of families who have lived there forever, seals what border?

[newthinking]

5. How about Turkey stop (indirectly) supporting ISIS and close the border

**All* bombs of war kill civilians in the process.

How about we pressure Turkey to seal off the border?

Why did we wait until Russia bombed the obvious Oil trafficking route to join in and do the same? Why did we let those millions $$$ flow to ISIS for over a year?

This all is a result of our policies. It is ingenuine to blame only the Russians (and Syria), who, despite the careful narrative have actually been the primary parties actually weakening ISIS' grip.

[Sunlei]

6. word was that Assad bought crude oil from IS 'workers' and paid in cash.

I think Turkey should shoot the plane down, after they give the warnings.

Putin lied last and this time when he says there are no warnings or border crossing by his Jets.

personally, IMO Putin himself funds IS and backs Assad to advance Russias economic hold on ports & land shipping outside of Russia. along with his 'buddie' China.

[newthinking]

7. Yes we know the current war "narrative". Which is a bunch of baloney.

Let's see the satellite pics of all those lines of trucks entering Assad's territory. What? There are none?

It makes no sense in the first place for Assad to buy oil from ISIS.

Don't be a tool. Get out of the big money MSM and learn what is really happening.

A good place to start is :

projectcensored.org

[Sunlei]

9. ahh yes, Putin the Angel of Love /s

[GGJohn]

11. Putin love on DemocraticUnderground?

Sure you're in the right place?

[newthinking]

15. well

I didn't know that red baiting was a Democratic value. You think you look good saying crap like this?
I have placed links elsewhere that clearly show there is a narrative on that is not completely honest.

Links (western media) here. You will feel a little foolish if you actually read them. Turkey has been trafficking and helping ISIS.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1332470

Other links are just above the post

[GGJohn]

16. You do realize that Putin is an LGBT bigot don't you?

How does that square with democrat values?
How is it red baiting when it's the truth?

[newthinking]

17. Not going to do this

The posts were about Turkey and facts on the middle east. Nice try.

[GGJohn]

18. The thread is,

I was responding to your praising of Putin.
So, care to respond to how Putin being an LGBT bigot squares with Democrat values?
How am I red baiting by telling the truth about Putin?

[840high]

14. +10

[LanternWaste]

21. It's convenient to label all opinions different than yours as baloney.

It's convenient to label all opinions different than yours as baloney. It's certainly a fallacy, however I understand the mental convenience it allows you. Further, in calling those who disagree with you a tool you accurately illustrate your own rational and critical thought process.

Very objective, indeed.

[happyslug]

22. So you want Turkey to commit an act of WAR???

Remember the bombing being done by the Russians are on the SYRIAN side of the border. While the people being bombed are Turkmen, they are NOT residents of Turkey (I would say they are NOT Citizens but some countries have broad definition of who is a citizen, for some country say anyone of the same ethnic group as the majority in that country, even if they have lived outside in another country for generations, are citizens of their country, these Turkmen may be Citizens of Turkey, even through they had NOT lived under Turkish rule since the Ottoman Empire).

Does NATO exists to protect a member from attack when that country is attack do to having itself attacked the country attacking it, i.e if Turkey attacks Russian Planes in Syria, and Russia then protects those planes by shooting down the Turkish planes that attacked the Russian planes, does NATO have to go to war to "Defend" Turkey? In effect is NATO not only a defensive alliance but an offensive alliance?

Given that since 1927 offensive war has been banned by treaty, is a Turkish attack on Russian planes even legal? Now, if the Security Council authorize such an attack it is legal, but given Russia's veto in the Security Council that will NEVER happen.

Now, an exception is a preemptive attack to prevent an attack. This was Bush's excuse to go after Saddam, but no one is threatening Turkey, and Russia is NOT Iraq.

If Putin plays his cards right (and so far he has) he leave the Turks do something stupid and retaliate them while they are in Syrian Air Space. Putin can then say he was acting DEFENSIVELY and NATO then has to decide, will it support Turkey's offensive actions or declare them as acts OUTSIDE of the Alliance. Every NATO country can make such a ruling and NATO works on consensus and with Hungary and Germany questioning the Turks acts, NATO may find itself unable to come to a Consensus (and that is assuming Greece does not come out in support of Syria and Russia, thus who is NATO to support, its NATO member Turkey or its NATO member Greece?). The Baltic States and Poland appear to give the most support to Turkey (for they fear Russia the Most) but how much of that is based on the fact they know Russia has no design on them at the present time and thus a good time to look hostile (i.e. verbally attack Russia thus showing they Independence, knowing Russia will NOT do anything for Putin has no designed on them at the present time).

The Turks have to be careful, their allies are NOT that loyal to them, and the most loyal ally can provide the least assistance.

[joshcryer]

19. LOL, your argument could justify bombing the Mexican border.

The Turkmen are fighting Turkish Kurds who are like FARC, terrorists in their own right. Putin supports Turkish Kurds as a sort of useful idiot.

[Sunlei]

2. Assad & bombing buddie Putin drive out millions more refugees. Over half of Syrias people are gone.

[uhnope]

12. & Assad gets a huge pass from the world. I listened to 24 hours of news @ Syria refugess recently

and hardly heard the name "Assad" mentioned. Seriously. Where is the outrage about or at least the questioning about Assad's reactions & guilt in the biggest refugee crisis in memory? Where are the articles asking Assad how he lets this happen to his people, what he thinks of Syrian babies washing up on the shores of Greece? It's mystifying

[Purveyor]

4. NONE of this would be taking place if the USA had not broken Iraq. None of it... eom

[Sunlei]

8. I hear you. Today crude would be $200 a barrel, oil rich countries would own so much of A

America, everything would be renamed.

[newthinking]

10. Columbia University Researchers Confirm Turkey’s Links to ISIS

Columbia University Researchers Confirm Turkey’s Links to ISIS

http://asbarez.com/142150/columbia-university-researchers-confirm-turkeys-links-to-isis/

Here are brief excerpts from the extensive research documenting the direct links between Turkey and ISIS:

Turkey Supplied Military Equipment to ISIS

An ISIS commander told The Washington Post on August 12, 2014: “Most of the fighters who joined us in the beginning of the war came via Turkey, and so did our equipment and supplies.”
Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), disclosed on Oct. 14, 2014, documents from the Adana Office of the Prosecutor, revealing that Turkey supplied weapons to terrorist groups. He also produced transcripts of interviews with truck drivers who delivered the weapons to the terrorists.
According to CHP Vice President Bulent Tezcan, Turkish agents drove three trucks loaded with rockets, arms, and ammunition to ISIS in Syria, on January 19, 2014.
Cumhuriyet newspaper quoted Fuat Avni as stating that Germany and the United States had audio tapes confirming that Turkey provided financial and military aid to terrorist groups associated with Al Qaeda on Oct. 12, 2014.
Documents made public on Sept. 27, 2014, revealed that Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Sultan financed the transportation of arms to ISIS through Turkey.

Turkey and ISIS connection

Turkey and ISIS connection

Turkey Provided Logistical Assistance to ISIS Fighters

According to a June 13, 2014 article in Radikal newspaper, Turkish Interior Minister Muammar Guler issued the following directive: “Hatay is a strategic location for the Mujahidin crossing from within our borders to Syria. Logistical support for Islamist groups will be increased, and their training, hospital care, and safe passage will mostly take place in Hatay.”
The Daily Mail reported on August 25, 2014 that many foreign militants joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq after traveling through Turkey.
Britain’s Sky News obtained documents showing that the Turkish government stamped passports of foreign militants seeking to cross the Turkish border into Syria to join ISIS.
A senior Egyptian official indicated on Oct. 9, 2014 that Turkish intelligence is passing to ISIS satellite imagery and other data.

Turkey Trained ISIS Fighters

CNN Turk reported on July 29, 2014 that in the heart of Istanbul, places like Duzce and Adapazari have become gathering spots for terrorists.
Turks who joined an ISIS affiliate were shown on July 28, 2014, at a public gathering in Istanbul.
A video showed an ISIS affiliate holding a prayer-gathering in Omerli, a district of Istanbul.
According to Jordanian Intelligence, Turkey trained ISIS militants for special operations.

Turkey Extended Medical Care to ISIS Fighters

An ISIS commander told The Washington Post on August 12, 2014, “We used to have some fighters — even high-level members of the Islamic State — getting treated in Turkish hospitals.”
On Oct. 12, 2014, Taraf newspaper reported that Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, a founder of Pres. Erdogan’s ruling party (AKP), divulged that Turkey supported terrorist groups and still supports them and treats them in its hospitals.

Turkey Supported ISIS Financially Through Purchase of Oil

On Sept. 13, 2014, The New York Times reported on the Obama administration’s efforts to pressure Turkey to crack down on the extensive network of oil sold by ISIS.
Fehim Taştekin wrote in Radikal on Sept. 13, 2014 about illegal pipelines transporting oil from Syria to Turkey.

Turkey Assisted ISIS Recruitment

Kiliçdaroğlu announced on Oct. 14, 2014 that ISIS offices in Istanbul and Gaziantep are recruiting fighters. On Oct. 10, 2014, the Mufti of Konya stated that 100 men from his city had joined ISIS four days ago.
OdaTV reported that Takva Haber served as a propaganda outlet for ISIS to recruit Turkish-speaking men in Turkey and Germany.
Minister of Sports, Suat Kilic, an AKP member, visited Salafi Jihadists who are ISIS supporters in Germany. These Jihadists recruit supporters by distributing free copies of the Quran and raising funds to sponsor suicide attacks in Syria and Iraq.
OdaTV released a video showing ISIS militants riding a bus in Istanbul.

Turkish Forces are Fighting Alongside ISIS

American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh asserted in the London Review of Books that “Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was known to be supporting the al-Nusra Front, a Jihadist faction among the rebel opposition, as well as other Islamist rebel groups.”
On Sept. 20, 2014, Demir Celik, a Member of Parliament representing the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), stated that Turkish Special Forces had joined ISIS in the battlefield.

Turkey Helped ISIS in Battle for Kobani

Anwar Muslim, Mayor of Kobani, revealed on Sept. 19, 2014 that trains full of Turkish forces and ammunition were delivered to ISIS. On September 30, 2014, a CHP delegation visited Kobani, where locals declared that everything from the clothes of ISIS militants to their guns comes from Turkey.
A Nuhaber video showed on Sept. 25, 2014 Turkish military convoys, carrying tanks and ammunition, moving freely under ISIS flags in the Jarablus region of Syria and the Karkamis border crossing.
Salih Muslim, PYD leader of Kurdish fighters, reported that 120 militants had crossed into Syria from Turkey on Oct. 20-24, 2014.
According to an op-ed written by a YPG Kurdish commander in The New York Times on Oct. 29, 2014, Turkey regularly allows ISIS militants and their equipment to pass freely over its border.
Diken reported on Oct. 1, 2014: “ISIS fighters crossed the border from Turkey into Syria in full view of Turkish soldiers.”

Turkey and ISIS Share a Worldview

RT reported on Oct. 3, 2014 on Vice President Joe Biden’s remarks detailing Turkish support to ISIS.
Hurriyet newspaper quoted a Turkish civil servant on Sept. 26, 2014: “I was shocked to hear words of admiration for ISIL from some high-level civil servants.”
An AKP council member posted on his Facebook page: “Thankfully ISIS exists…. May you never run out of ammunition….”
Erdogan’s son Bilal and Turkish officials met with ISIS fighters, according to Sariyer Gozlem.


Here is a Huffington post link (in case you also don't like Armenian Americans who publish the newspaper in Fresno)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-l-phillips/research-paper-isis-turke_b_6128950.html

[840high]

13. Thank you.

[killbotfactory]

20. This civil war is shameful for everyone involved

But really it's Assad's fault for not conceding to the demands of foreign-backed armed Sunni Islamist rebels.

And it totally has nothing to do with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar-Turkey_pipeline