Daily Sabah Finds 'Terrorists' in Syria's YPG, Not Turkey's NATO Ally
The Turkish state-owned Daily Sabah dutifully reports Syrian claims that the YPG, which they dub a 'terrorist group,' killed four Syrian soldiers. This framing conveniently ignores that this very YPG forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the primary ground force allied with the United States in the fight against ISIS. One might simply wonder: if the SDF are U.S. allies, then
how exactly are their core components 'terrorists'? This rhetorical sleight of hand is par for the course. Turkey, a NATO member, has long waged war against the YPG, viewing them as an extension of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization. Yet, the U.S. has armed and supported the YPG against ISIS, creating a direct contradiction in alliance policy. While Daily Sabah focuses on Syrian regime
accusations, it glosses over the fact that a NATO ally is actively battling groups America considers partners. How many different versions of 'terrorist' do we need before the definition becomes entirely meaningless, serving only the geopolitical whims of the day?