The Fight against PKK Terrorism

Pax Ottomana · Oct 28, 2017

kartal1 said:
With the environment we are facing today you have to be flexible and to adapt fast. Excluding that option completely is a false from my point of view. Its not necessary to be often used its a very serious move that very often targets also civilians. But if the conditions are met and its necessary in order to secure the national security of the country and the normal life of the people the country must do what it have to do even if its terrorism. Thats why not everybody can work on that high level. The understanding of mercy and the readiness to contribute for the completion of the objective and the security of the country and the people is on very different level. A normal and even sane person cant understand it. Its not beautiful but thats what it is.

There's no need to be emotional about this. Reciprocity is the #1 rule of international relations. If a country is friendly to you, you adopt a friendly policy toward it. If they're neutral, you're neutral to them. If they're bombing you or supporting terrorism against you, you bomb them back and support terrorism against them. In short, you reciprocate. Simple as that!

kartal1 · Oct 28, 2017

Vord said:
There's no need to be emotional about this. Reciprocity is the #1 rule of international relations. If a country is friendly to you, you adopt a friendly policy toward it. If they're neutral, you're neutral to them. If they're bombing you or supporting terrorism against you, you bomb them back and support terrorism against them. In short, you reciprocate. Simple as that!

Nothing emotional. Just one big goal and objectives. The most people cant get it and I think its not good to get it. If everyone have that psychological setting and the amount of control in order to understand it I am not sure that the world will be a very good place BUT the facts are that this type of people are needed. I am looking it from a point of view that loves the professionalism and the art involved in this type of special work that not everybody can take. I am trying to look from the perspective of the men on the ground. Its so strange because in the end its all love

.

Pax Ottomana · Oct 28, 2017

kartal1 said:
Nothing emotional. Just one big goal and objectives. The most people cant get it and I think its not good to get it. If everyone have that psychological setting and the amount of control in order to understand it I am not sure that the world will be a very good place BUT the facts are that this type of people are needed. I am looking it from a point of view that loves the professionalism and the art involved in this type of special work that not everybody can take. I am trying to look from the perspective of the men on the ground. Its so strange because in the end its all love .

Not sure if these will help but here's some of the arguments and the terms they use to justify their violence...

It's necessary evil
It's just means to an end
I'll do it but I won't like it
We've got to fight them there so that we won't have to fight them here
They're subhumans so it's not a crime against humanity (it's okay to kill subhuman women and children)
We're god's chosen people (especially Jews favor this)
It's just a job (I did it for money)
I'm just serving my country
I'm just saving money for college
We're helping the people, not killing them (complete denial)
I was ordered to do so, I had no choice
I simply don't care about them
The best muslim/turk is a dead muslim/turk
We're not killing them we're "bringing them democracy"
They would've done the same to us
The oil is worth it... I don't want to pay $20/gal at the pump
We kill them because they hate us
They attacked us first
I joined the army just for fun and then ended up in Fallujah
They're the terrorists ... we're supporting "freedom fighters"
...

And it goes on and on...

Otonom Piyade · Oct 28, 2017

Some are indoctrinated to blindly hate a group of people/race/religion.. We see this happening in the west, where political leaders are motivating people to blindly hate individuals. Far-right groups are gaining massive momentum in Europe and equally arson attacks on religious centres are on the rise, yet, nothing is done to curb this extremism because media indoctrinates individuals as "Muslims are terrorists"

kartal1 · Oct 28, 2017

Flux said:
Some are indoctrinated to blindly hate a group of people/race/religion.. We see this happening in the west, where political leaders are motivating people to blindly hate individuals. Far-right groups are gaining massive momentum in Europe and equally arson attacks on religious centres are on the rise, yet, nothing is done to curb this extremism because media indoctrinates individuals as "Muslims are terrorists"

What would you do on their place? When you see someone to be future threat then you must take preventive measures. Everyone that is working for security services will tell you about the importance of the preventive measures. Can you imagine if the terror and the international threats were not present for Turkey where Turkey would be now? They are scared of us thats why they act like this. Combine it with the hate against us because of the historical marks we let in their minds. I am living in Bulgaria and I can see the local population even in our small good city. I am seeing the developments that targets the possible involvement of anything Turkish in the country. Even that I am living in a mixed area where Bulgarians, Pomaks and Turks are living together for very long time and everyone is respecting the other I am seeing the behavior of the younger people. The result of the anti Turkish psy-ops is there. More and more become more radical more nationalistic and non tolerant to other ethnics and religion. The interesting part is that we dont see anything like this from Pomak or Turks in my area. They are trying to blame all the bad situation in the country on the different ethnics and religion and more young people start to believe that the solution for these problems lies in the mobilization of the people to counter the muslims and the different ethnics. Everyday we hear about the bad thing gypsies done. Fights, thievery, murders and they are playing with the tension in the country. Everyday we are hearing what Erdogan said and how the Turkish intelligence and security services intervened in the internal matters of the country and how Turkey is a threat for the national security and how radical Islamist groups are financed from Turkey and Saudi Arabia preaching anti democratic ideologies and calls for jihad. Of course in some matters there is some truth but they are exaggerating to much in order to keep the tension. This things can lead only to bad results. Nationalistic groups in Bulgaria are growing stronger and they go more radical and radical. Involvement of intelligence organizations in the training and supplying these type of groups is present. The key for peace is in their hands but if the situation continues like this there will be no other choice but defend our people. It reminds me of Kosovo. Ayse was there to.

Otonom Piyade · Oct 28, 2017

kartal1 said:
What would you do on their place? When you see someone to be future threat then you must take preventive measures. Everyone that is working for security services will tell you about the importance of the preventive measures. Can you imagine if the terror and the international threats were not present for Turkey where Turkey would be now? They are scared of us thats why they act like this. Combine it with the hate against us because of the historical marks we let in their minds. I am living in Bulgaria and I can see the local population even in our small good city. I am seeing the developments that targets the possible involvement of anything Turkish in the country. Even that I am living in a mixed area where Bulgarians, Pomaks and Turks are living together for very long time and everyone is respecting the other I am seeing the behavior of the younger people. The result of the anti Turkish psy-ops is there. More and more become more radical more nationalistic and non tolerant to other ethnics and religion. The interesting part is that we dont see anything like this from Pomak or Turks in my area. They are trying to blame all the bad situation in the country on the different ethnics and religion and more young people start to believe that the solution for these problems lies in the mobilization of the people to counter the muslims and the different ethnics. Everyday we hear about the bad thing gypsies done. Fights, thievery, murders and they are playing with the tension in the country. Everyday we are hearing what Erdogan said and how the Turkish intelligence and security services intervened in the internal matters of the country and how Turkey is a threat for the national security and how radical Islamist groups are financed from Turkey and Saudi Arabia preaching anti democratic ideologies and calls for jihad. Of course in some matters there is some truth but they are exaggerating to much in order to keep the tension. This things can lead only to bad results. Nationalistic groups in Bulgaria are growing stronger and they go more radical and radical. Involvement of intelligence organizations in the training and supplying these type of groups is present. The key for peace is in their hands but if the situation continues like this there will be no other choice but defend our people. It reminds me of Kosovo. Ayse was there to.

We still have not forgotten what the Bulgarians did to the Turkish-Bulgarians in early 90's and will never forget. They drove millions of Turks out of Bulgaria in fear that with the high fertility rate of Turks, they predicted Turks might have become the majority in 70-100 years time. As a result, shipped many Turks on board of trains and into Turkey. This how civilised these people are... The points you raised is not solely carried out in Bulgaria either, Turks struggle to get to the top in almost every country they are living in. Muslims/Turks are under spot light and they're under constant scrutiny.

Pax Ottomana · Oct 28, 2017

Civilians in Idlib Feel Safer With Turkish Soldiers

The Turkish military continues its operation in Idlib, establishing a second observatory point in accordance with the Astana talks, and due to the operation, civilians in the region say there is a safer environment and hope for more to come.

A second observatory post in Syria's Idlib has been established on Oct. 23, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said Friday in a statement. In efforts to create a safer environment in the region, continuing questions have been raised regarding what Turkey's next step will be.

According to the statement released by the TSK, in the scope of the Astana process and decisions taken during those talks, Turkey is among the forces responsible for establishing de-escalation zones in Syria.

"Under this premise, the Turkish military started to conduct exploration activities Oct. 8, establishing its first observation post on Oct. 13 while the second was established on Oct. 23," the statement said, adding that efforts to establish other observation posts were ongoing.

"While efforts for the clearance and discovery of mines are being carried out in the al-Bab region, counterterrorism measures being taken to prevent possible attacks by the PKK and its Syrian offshoot the Democratic Union Party (PYD) targeting western Manbij continue. In this respect, the sporadic attacks, especially in the regions of Azaz-Mare and Manbij, are being met with equivocal responses with equal treatment," the statement further added.

Civilians have also already begun experiencing safer conditions as a result of the operation. Namely, the Martyrs' Camp for internally displaced persons, located in the village of Atmeh near Idlib, provides a healthy environment for orphans and widows who lost everything to the conflict in Syria. Most families at the camp have lost hope of ever hearing from their loved ones who were arrested by the Bashar Assad regime.

Mariam Sallum, 32, a resident of the camp and a mother of three, says the operation offers hope to her and her three children. Sallum has stayed at the camp for six years, along with her three children: 7-year-old Ali, 8-year-old Omar and 10-year-old Sidrah.

She said that her husband was arrested and taken to a regime prison in Hama six years ago, adding that he hasn't been heard from since.

"My husband was working in Damascus, then left his job and began working in a bakery," she said. "As soon as his contract ended, [the regime] arrested him. The [Syrian] army entered our region and took many young people away."

"They took my husband and his brother. We haven't heard from them since. We assume they are dead," she said. She said she chose to seek shelter in the city of Idlib because it was close to Turkey."This area is safe because it borders Turkey. When we are close to Turkey, there are no airplanes and fewer attacks," she explained. "We cannot return to our village because it is controlled by the regime."

Describing her life as a widow with three children as "difficult," she told Anadolu Agency, "My children are my only source of happiness. I think about dying sometimes but then I remember my children."

Sallum went on to say that she thinks about her missing husband whenever she becomes depressed.

"Sometimes I cannot remember his face, so I look at his photos," she said. "Photos are all I have."

After looking at their family photo album, her eldest son, Omar, said, "I don't feel anything when I look at [my family]; I don't remember anyone. I only know my mother."

Omar's brother, Ali, however, says he imagines his father returning one day.

"I bring my mother the juice they give out at school and I share the cookies they give us with my brothers," Ali said.

He added that he wants to be a policeman when he grows up. Pointing to the Turkish soldiers stationed at the camp, he said, "The Turkish soldiers are here to protect us from Bashar Assad."

Meanwhile, an expert on security policy talked about the longevity of the operation. "It is not possible to talk about a determined schedule right now," said Mete Yarar. "These kinds of operations are usually open-ended. In addition, this operation has three missions: Preventing the movement of the PYD toward the south, preventing the possible migrants that may pass through Turkey and the self-evacuation process of the Nusra Front. None of these missions depend on any schedule. They are not like the Daesh, in which you go and clear the area from them."

Turkey considers the PYD and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG) to be a terror threat, saying that these organizations are an offshoot of the PKK, which is officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey. However, the EU and the U.S. do not recognize the PYD/YPG as a terrorist organization.

Turkey strongly opposes the presence of any PKK-affiliated group south of its border, both in Iraq and Syria, saying the presence constitutes a national security threat to Turkey's borders.

"The next step, as [President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] pointed out before, would be Afrin and permanently abolishing the PKK. The first step was the transition and I suppose that an operation would be the second step," Yarar said regarding the issue.

President Erdoğan said Tuesday that Turkey's operation in northwestern Syria's Idlib was largely complete, asserting, "Now, it's time for Afrin." Earlier this month, Erdoğan also said that Turkey was conducting a "serious operation" with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) as part of the de-escalation deal brokered last month with Iran and Russia in Kazakhstan.

The Astana agreement with Russia and Iran - the allies of the Assad regime - involves reducing warfare in several regions, including Idlib and adjacent swathes of Syria's northwest, the most populated opposition-held area.

The operation is the second time in over a year that the TSK has crossed into Syria. The first, Operation Euphrates Shield, was launched on Aug. 24, 2016 in collaboration with the FSA and helped liberate several Daesh strongholds, including Jarablus, Dabiq, al-Rai and al-Bab.

https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-t...d-observatory-post-in-idlib-locals-feel-safer