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US Military 'Impressed' by Cooperation with Turkey in Syria; Erdogan Issues
Warning

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Senior U.S. military officers claim "impressive" progress in
   cooperation with NATO ally Turkey in northeast Syria. But Turkish
   President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is warning of unilateral action against
   Washington's critical Syrian ally if Turkish security demands aren't
   met by the end of the month.

   "I am constantly impressed by what the CJOC [Combined Joint Operation
   Center] has achieved in such a short period of time," said Brig. Gen.
   Christian Wortman in a briefing to journalists. "I would like to
   compliment our Turkish allies for their high levels of
   professionalism."

   CJOC is based in Turkey's Sanliurfa province, which borders Syria. The
   command center was set up under an August agreement between U.S. and
   Turkish generals to create what Washington calls a "security
   mechanism," and what Ankara refers to a "safe zone," in northeast
   Syria.

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