I'm not aware of any powerful Kurdish organization which speaks about an independent Kurdistan. That's Erdogan talk. — Πετροκότσυφας
Interesting. But it makes sense. An independent Kurdistan would likely get similar treatment as Israel did when it proclaimed independence. Hence the democratic confederalism. So basically can the Kurds cut a deal with the Assad regime and be basically like the Kurds in Iraq?That's not my understanding at all. — Πετροκότσυφας
I think there is an obvious counterinsurgency tactic in downplaying any moderate factions and actually assisting, perhaps at least not going after them, the most fanatical islamist factions. And Assad himself is the biggest player with the sectarian/ethnic card. Basically the Assad regime has tried to put the ethnic minorities in the situation that without them they will be slaughtered. Hence the non-sectarian opposition that doesn't go with ethnic lines is the number one target for him. The biggest threat comes from factions that could be accepted by the international community.I think that territorial gains shouldn't be downplayed. Aleppo, ar-Raqqa and Al-Hasakah governorates, which is where the QSD operate right now, is not an insignificant part of Syria. Most importantly, they need not be the only parts where the QSD operate. This is why it is mandatory for people to understand that it's not a Kurdish project. Islamists tried in the past to discredit the liberation of various areas by the YPG on ethnic grounds. Most of it was just propaganda, as far as I can tell. — Πετροκότσυφας
How aptly you said it: "Planned re-elections".Once IS is kicked out of Syria, we should support the planned re-elections and help Syrians stabilise their country in a manner as they see fit. — Benkei
How aptly you said it: "Planned re-elections".
Well, let's remember that Bashar had lots of time as he came to power in 2000. In a decade nothing yet happened. Now he might have indeed wanted reforms, but simply the whole setup of power wasn't going to be so. The simple fact is that he would have had to give up the family enterprise called Syria. Sunni's and others than people loyal to Assad would have had to come into power. When your father dealt with the Muslim Brotherhood as he done, there was no real way to hand off power and think that everything will go very civilized. In a way, the Assad regime was ready for this civil war. — ssu
Quite well said. The problem is that normally in a war you take a side or another and help it to victory. And Syria is now already a proxy war, which means it will go on longer than otherwise it would go. Once both sides aren't nice, you have a problem.I know what an ethical policy towards Syria wouldn't look like. It wouldn't assent to the sort of measures that likely result in significant "collateral damage", i.e. dead or injured civilian victims. And it wouldn't involve supporting the detestable Assad regime, even as the better of evils. Shame on anyone who does so: Agustino, it seems, based on his comments. — Sapientia
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