"Erdogan made a commitment to President Trump... that the Turks would continue to the counter ISIS campaign after our departure, and that the Turks would ensure that the folks that we'd fought with - that assisted us in the counter ISIS campaign - would be protected."Pompeo explained further that John Bolton is going to speak with Turkey during his visit there on how to put that promise into operation.
"We don't think the Turks ought to undertake military action that's not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States, at a minimum, so they don't endanger our troops but also so that they meet the president's requirement that the Syrian opposition forces that have fought with us are not endangered," he said.The Turkish leader, on his part, stated that Ankara seeks only to kill "terrorists," while actually protecting its "Kurdish brothers" in the neighboring country. "Those, who spread the lie that Turkey is killing Kurds in Syria, are trying to manipulate the international community's opinion," Erdogan stressed.
White House National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara to hold talks with senior Turkish officials on US troop withdrawal from Syria, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the pull-out as "the right call".1/8/2019 AMN had this to offer:
Turkey will ask US officials to hand over its military bases in Syria to Ankara or destroy them, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported. "Give them or destroy them", the publication's headline read, referring to what it said were 22 US military bases in the Syrian Arab Republic.
The newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying that Turkey would not accept Washington handing them over to the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
US National Security Adviser John Bolton arrived in Ankara for talks with his Turkish counterpart Ibrahim Kalin on Tuesday just days after Bolton set forth a new condition for the US withdrawal, insisting that Turkey must agree to protect the US-allied Kurdish militia.
"We don't think the Turks ought to undertake military action that's not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States, at a minimum so they don't endanger our troops, but also so that they meet the president's requirement that the Syrian opposition forces that have fought with us are not endangered", Bolton told reporters, as quoted by NBC News.
Most recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted Bolton's remarks, saying that he had made a "serious mistake", and that Ankara could never compromise on the issue of the YPG.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNBC that Turkish President Erdogan had promised to protect US-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria:
"Erdogan made a commitment to President Trump... that the Turks would continue the counter ISIS* [Daesh] campaign after our departure, and that the Turks would ensure that the folks that we'd fought with - that assisted us in the counter ISIS [Daesh] campaign - would be protected".
In an op-ed for The New York Times, Erdogan wrote that his American counterpart Donald Trump had "made the right call" to withdraw US troops from Syria, but the withdrawal must be planned "carefully" and performed in cooperation with "the right partners to protect the interests of the United States, the international community and the Syrian people".
US National Security Advisor John Bolton has reportedly told Turkish officials that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's article, which was published on 7 January 2019, was wrong and offensive.
Bolton, who is currently on a tour of the Middle East attempting to convince US regional partners that they won't leave them to fend for themselves in the fight against Daesh, noted that Washington would oppose any mistreatment by Turkish forces of its Kurdish allies in Syria, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed senior US official.
John Bolton didn't believe that he had been disregarded due to the Turkish president's refusal to meet with him, as plans for bilateral talks had not been confirmed in advance, the unnamed US senior official said.
"Bolton is making a big mistake, his statement is unacceptable. Terrorist organisations do not represent Kurds. Those who spread lies about Turkey killing Kurds in Syria are trying to play on the mood of the world community", Erdogan said during his presentation to the parliamentary faction of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
On 7 January 2019, The New York Times published an article written by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where he evaluated the US withdrawal from Syria, noting that Trump's move needs to be carried out in close cooperation with "the right partners to protect the interests of the United States, the international community and the Syrian people". The Turkish president highlighted that Turkey is "the only country with the power and commitment to perform that task".
Pompeo will insist that Iran, a country Obama tried to engage, is the real terrorist culprit. The speech's drafts also have Pompeo suggesting that Iran could learn from the Saudis about human rights and the rule of law [bold mine-DL], two people briefed said.Pompeo has spent the last few months as if he is auditioning to be the next Saudi foreign minister with his effusive defenses of the kingdom and expressions of hostility to Iran, so it isn't surprising that he will be making the same noises in this speech. Holding up the Saudis as an example to follow on human rights and the rule of law would be a bad joke at the best of times. In light of their numerous terrible crimes in Yemen and against their own people, it just confirms how absurdly biased in favor of the Saudis this administration is.
Comment: RT provides more details surrounding the move: It seems like a fairly weak accusation and an unlikely action Iran would be involved in, but it's likely welcome by those looking for an incident to scupper the JCPOA:
- Paper Tiger Sanctions on Iran Will Speed The End of Pax Americana
- Iran embargo falters: Bolton gives India temporary waiver, claims won't hurt "friends and allies"
- Pepe Escobar: EU finally says 'no' to US bullying over Iran sanctions
Also check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Atlantic Trade War? How Trump Breaking Iran Deal Could Dismantle US Empire