Kurds in Syria betrayed by the world. Not just Trump.

Kurds in Syria have been betrayed by Trump and all US policy makers…from both political parties for decades.  The Kurds should have their own land...or at least be protected by some kind of police force dedicated to protecting human rights instead of national sovereignty.


Anyone closely following the situation in norther Syria must have strained their necks with head spinning and gone blind with eye rolling.  Warnings of blowback by experienced foreign policy and military leaders is consistent with uniformed US military service members who fought along side the Kurds in dismantling the last acre of the ISIS geographic califate and guarding ISIS prisoners.  Many of these US troops are sickened by Trump’s decision and initial approval of Turkey’s incursion which has given aid to four of our greatest adversaries (Russia, Iran, Syria, and the thousands of remaining ISIS fighters).  And, damaged relations with some of our closest allies (Israel and many NATO countries not to mention the Kurds and others in N. Syria fighting ISIS remnants). 

But the larger context is missed by most.  Syria’s problems have always existed but the country fell into chaos after Assad refused to assist Syrian farmers driven off their farms after 3 years of draught .  They migrated into the capital hoping for relief…then suffered from the Syrian government’s lack of response to their needs.  It was Assad’s forces violently crushed their protests that sparking the civil war.  The war that ISIS took advantage of…which we responded to by assisting the Kurd’s on the battlefield. 

There are several fundamental principles that have been violated that are continuing to contribute to the growing chaos.

#1.  The protection of human rights continues to be tertiary to the protection of national sovereignty and US short term interests.  Turkey’s right to invade Syrian territory fearing (with no actual proof) that the Kurds in Norther Syria were supporting the PKK which is labeled a terrorist organization, but in their own view a liberation movement in respond to a brutal Turkish government.

In reality, the largest population of people in N. Syria is not the Kurds. It is mostly Arabs.  Kurds are the second largest group with smaller factions of Christians and Turks.  There is distinctions made by Turkish air and artillery bombardments.  

#2.  The lack of any global police force to protect any innocent people in Northern Syria will results in even more refugees destabilizing the region and even nations beyond the region.  Trump’s tweets “We’re not a police force" in Northern Syria.   His tweet reflects the reality that we live in an increasingly chaotic and crime ridden world where war, invasions, WMD proliferation, genocide, assassinations, mass murder, lethal sanctions, human trafficking, and widespread corruption are as endless as the wars we are now involved in.  

#3.  Crimes committed by any sides in this conflict will likely not be prosecuted in courts… and only drive future conflicts, grievances, retaliations and fear based unjust lethal actions.   It appears flawed “realistic principles” will continue to be the guide to US foreign policy if the email today from The Center for New American Security is any indication of future military actions.   The email included a link to its November/December 2019 print edition of Foreign Affairs, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2019-10-15/nonintervention-delusion .  CNAS CEO Richard Fontaine essay there “addresses the most frequently expressed concerns about U.S. military interventions and concludes that, nevertheless, the use of military force will remain a key component of U.S. foreign policy.”  "That, in turn," Fontaine writes, "requires applying the right lessons from recent decades." Drawing from the recent history of U.S. military involvement and acknowledging the enduring concerns about forceful intervention, Fontaine argues, "Policymakers should accept that the use of military force will remain an essential tool of U.S. strategy." Identifying five common arguments raised by opponents of U.S. military intervention, Fontaine concludes that realistic principles should characterize America's approach to the use of military force. Rather than wholly reject the use of military force as a foreign policy tool.  He argues, policymakers should embrace guidelines for U.S. military interventions that prioritize clear objectives for the use of force, shared presidential and congressional support, the commitment of U.S. allies, and the reasonable expectation that the benefits of intervention would outweigh the costs. Zero mention of justice or the protection of innocent people as the highest priority.  In other words.  War as usual…accepting collateral damage when necessary.  No ‘rule of law’.  Just the law of force, with some improved care not to kill civilians.

Fontaine argues that accepting the possibility of a long-term military commitment should form a crucial part of the U.S. approach to the use of force. To this end, he writes, "No grand strategy can be built on the presumption that military intervention is mostly an erroneous activity of yesteryear, rather than an enduring feature of U.S. foreign policy."  In other words, more ‘endless war’ while the evolution of weapons continues to work against us.  Amid all the pledges to dial back intervention and end forever wars, he adds, “Far more subtlety is needed when it comes to considering if, when, and how the United States should use force abroad.”   In other words, ‘no force of law’ or rule of law.

Imagine how safe US cities and streets would be if there were no police, and not enforcement capacity to protect innocent lives.   No system to hold law breakers accountable?  Would traffic lights, speed limits, and directional signs be useful in keeping the public safe?   That’s the world we have today.

How well would global aviation systems work if there were no FFA holding airlines accountable for crashes?   Could we rely on the honesty of the corporate airline inspectors to give us honest results of the cause of each crash?  Police and accountability of both citizens and the police are essential elements in any safe, reliable, and sustainable form government. 

According to Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense Pamphlet” protecting “the freedom and security” of the people is the only legitimate purpose of government.   With no government in place…we can expect neither freedom nor security in any reliable fashion.