Turkey going ahead with Syrian buffer zones

Turkey is reportedly pushing ahead with preparations to set up buffer zones in Syria, despite being warned off the idea by the US. UAE publication The National said 500 specialised soldiers had arrived near the Syrian border to look at military options for the buffer zone and the handling of more refugees. The paper reported residents saying they had seen high-ranking officers of the Turkish military inspecting the border region. Others said newly-established no-go areas in some sections of the border were also linked to preparations for the buffer zone. The observations are in line with Turkish media reports that Turkey's military, intelligence service and foreign ministry were drawing up plans. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton however "emphatically dismissed" the idea of buffer zones during a meeting last month with Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davuto?lu. According to well-informed Turkish and US sources, during his meeting with Clinton, Davuto?lu put forward a set of measures, including, among others, creating a buffer zone and/or a humanitarian corridor, as well as organising and equipping the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The secretary of state responded in no uncertain terms that the Obama administration had no interest in pursuing any of these options. In fact, according to one account, Clinton told her Turkish counterpart no less than three times, "We are not there."