We need to protect the Kurds if out of self interest if nothing else. They have been good allies. Provide them air cover? Or am I wrong?
100% correct.
“Provide them air cover?”
If Syria allies with the Kurds it will be ... Russia (and Syria) providing them air cover!
We do have bases across the border, but think our only defending of the Kurds would be diplomatic though.
” Provide them air cover? Or am I wrong?”
Our air base, Incirlik, is in Turkey. We rent it from the Turks. Our policy and actions in the area are constrained by this fact.
Frankly, I think we should abandon Turkey and kick them out of NATO. But, then, I am, apparently, a radical extremist.
Yup, you're wrong. To protect the Kurds we would have to conquer the Middle East with a force of 80-100 divisions, and if Bush wouldn't/couldn't raise such a force in 2001 it certainly isn't going to happen now.
The American people voted decisively on land war in Southwest Asia in 2006 and 2008.
Give it up. The area belongs to Turkey and Iran. The Saudi royalty are dead meat. Get the hell out before any more of our irreplaceable heroes gets hurt.