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6-Testing the "inclusivity" of governance in the SDF zone, an emerging US priority (and a big one in DC), is a political project. As you said, White Helmets are supposed to be neutral. Afrin belies this. Regardless, in that context, there's no need for White Helmets in N/E Syria.
1) I disagree. White Helmets used to operate in Afrin prior to Turkey's intervention. PYD shut down their center and arrested the Afrin center's leader (who by the way, was Kurdish). So does their previous work there make them pro-YPG? Does their work in Idlib make them pro-HTS?
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2) Prior to ISIS, White Helmets trained 100s of volunteers from Raqqa & Deir Ezzor, provided them equipment & supplies. They tried to maintain that presence, despite ISIS control, but eventually had to shut down because of ISIS. We should support reactivating those centers.
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3) If White Helmets restart operations in NE Syria, they'll expand there same way they have elsewhere: training & empowering locals. In Kurdish areas this means Kurdish leadership (as they did before in Afrin). In Arab areas, this means Arab leadership. Isn't that what's needed?
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4) We need to understand basic argument for why the White Helmets exist and should work in all of Syria, regardless of who is in control. They make life better for civilians. They are neutral & have proven this. Assad won't accept them in regime areas. SDF should welcome them.
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5) Let's not give up on the idea of a national project that can serve all Syrians. The armed opposition failed to do it. The White Helmets are our best hope now.
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1-Kenan, it is difficult to have a national project when the White Helmets are actively participating in a program in Afrin that has displaced hundreds of thousands, and where there are documented violations against local residents that is based on their ethnic+sectarian origin.
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2-Here's an idea: the next time you are in DC, help us use the public relations goodwill that the White Helmets have, especially in Congress, to raise awareness about the plight of the people from Afrin as a consequence of Olive Branch. That is a confidence building measure.
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I'm ready to have the conversation about confidence-building measures, but you've raised a serious allegation which we need to address: Where's your evidence of WH support of combat operations in Afrin?
End of conversation
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Thats basically BS. ”Operate” in what sense? Afrin had fully functional services prior to the invasion and no need of their services until Turkey and their proxies carried out the invasion which the White Helmets now whitewash.
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The White Helmets works exclusively in rebel/jihadist/FSA/Nusra areas. They haven’t said one word about the ethnic cleansing of Afrins Kurdish population or the war crimes carried out by Turkey. Not even when Turkey bombed Afrins hospital.
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Come back and whine when the Kurdish Red Crescent is allowed to operate in rebel/jihadist areas, or when the White Helmets start to speak about the war crimes carried out against the civilian population in Afrin.
End of conversation
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They are linked with jihadist rebels who kidnaped over 300 Kurds. Why wouldn’t they be banned by PYD when they operate under al nusra front?
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Kurds can organize their own services without you islamists.
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