Just in case you thought Syria was over: US ally Turkey fighting US-backed Kurdish YPG, who played a central role in taking Raqqa from ISIS. Prediction: US lets it go, leaving the Kurds out to dry. Open question: What Syrian gov. does about this region.http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42831296 …
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ISIS was the second Sunni insurgency along the Iraq-Syria border since the fall of Saddam. To avoid a third, someone has to hold the territory without sparking rebellion from locals. There's some relief now that the Islamic State has fallen, but is still unclear who will do that.
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In Syria, Kurdish forces hold most of the area, with US support. Turkey opposes that, and is already attacking. The Syrian government (and its Russian and Iranian backers) doesn't want to permanently forfeit part of its territory to Turkey, US-supported Kurds, or anyone else.
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The US must choose: support Syrian Kurds and confront Turkey, or quickly withdraw forces. Both have downsides, and require robust diplomatic engagement, which this administration--busy trumpeting the "defeat" of ISIS for domestic political gain--hasn't shown it can manage. (END)
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