Turkey Wonk

The clashes around Kobane between the YPG and the Islamic State have increased in recent weeks. The IS assault is threatening to topple the autonomous Kurdish canton. Today, I speak with Isabel Hunter, an independent journalist based in Gaziantep, about the situation on the Turkish-Syrian border and the on-going clashes between the two groups. *The podcast was recorded on Wednesday 1 October, before IS is reported to have taken control over the southern and eastern entrances to Kobane city.

What is the current situation in Rojava? Does the border between Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan exist anymore? How deep are the divisions in Kurdistan? What does the YPG think of their Peshermga cousins? What role do regional powers play in Kurdish politics? And what does this mean for the future of the Middle East?     Today, I speak with Michael Stephens, the Director of RUSI Qatar, about his recent trip to Syrian and Iraqi Kurdistan about these issues.

What is Turkey’s current policy towards the PKK? How are PKK fighters moving from Turkey to Rojava? What is the current state of the border areas near the Turkish town of Karkamis? Today, Aaron is joined by Gaziantep based journalist Isabel Hunter to discuss these issues.

In this joint Turkey Wonk and Brown Moses Podcast, Aaron Stein and Eliot Higgins discuss the August 21st chemical attacks, from the first moments of the attack to the debate about who was responsible for the attacks. Playlist of videos from the August 21st Sarin attacks Human Rights Watch - Syria: Government Likely Culprit in Chemical Attack Brown Moses - Making Sense Of Russia’s Evolving Narrative For The August 21st Sarin Attacks Seymour Hersh - The Red Line and the Rat Line Aaron Stein - Turkey’s Syria Policy: Why Seymour Hersh Got it Wrong Eliot Higgins and Dan Kazeta - It’s clear that Turkey was not involved in the chemical attack on Syria Eliot Higgins - Attempts to Blame the Syrian Opposition for the August 21st Sarin Attacks Continue One Year On

After the uptick in fighting in Iraqi Kurdistan, thousands of Ezidis have fled their homes after the Islamic State overran the Peshmerga in numerous villages on the far western border of Kurdistan. What is Turkey’s policy towards these new refugees? Why is the PKK running a refugee camp in Turkey? What are the conditions like on Turkeys borders with Iraq and Syria in the predominantly Kurdish southeast? How do those conditions differ from other border areas in Turkey? How do local people view the PYD’s YPG, as compared to the Peshmerga? And what does all of this mean for the current AKP led peace talks with the PKK? Today, Aaron and Noah discuss these issues in the Turkey Wonk podcast. Iraq refugees ‘terrified to be sent back’ - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

What is going on in Iraqi Kurdistan? Will the US decision to use force to protect Erbil be a game changer? Will point defense work? Can ISIS advance on Erbil? Has the IS assault on Kurdistan united the Kurdish factions? Today, Michael and Aaron discuss all things Iraq and try to get to the bottom of these questions.

After the Islamic State’s rapid advances in Iraq, scant attention has been paid to their offensive in Kobane. Today, Aaron Stein speaks with Michael Stephens, Director of RUSI Qatar, about the on-going clashes between the PYD and the Islamic State on the border of Syrian Kurdistan. The two discuss Turkish policy in Iraq and Syria and finish with a more general discussion about the trajectory of the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. RUSI - Turkey’s Response to ISIS and the Crisis in Iraq Syria Kurds impose mandatory military service - Al Jazeera English BBC News - While Iraq burns, Isis takes advantage in Syria Rojava: Syria’s Unknown War | VICE United Kingdom

Do the Kurds benefit from the current chaos in Iraq? Is independence around the corner? What is Turkey’s Kurdistan policy? Today, Aaron Stein and Dov Friedman discuss all things Kurdistan for the Turkey Wonk Podcast. Links: Dov Friedman and Cale Salih | How to Get the Kurdish Regional Goverment to Take on ISIS | Foreign Affairs Yes, The U.S. Can Help Iraq - Business Insider Israel and Kurdistan’s Alleged Oil Deal Is Putting the U.S. on Notice | New Republic Why Kurdistan Still Doesn’t Have its Oil Money - Alex Whitcomb in Rudaw RUSI - Turkey’s Response to ISIS and the Crisis in Iraq To keep the Middle East together, don’t let Iraq split up | Columns | Daily Sabah