Syria crisis: Nato 'to approve Turkey missiles request'

[Gerald]

Syrian mortars reportedly aimed at rebels close to the border have strayed into Turkey.

Nato is set to approve the deployment of Patriot missile interceptors to defend Turkey's border with Syria.

A meeting of the 28-member alliance's foreign ministers in Brussels follows a request from Turkey to boost its defences along the border.

Nato officials have made clear such a move would be purely defensive.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad he would face "consequences" if he uses chemical weapons against his people.

"The world is watching. The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable," said Mr Obama in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington.

"If you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons there will be consequences and you will be held accountable."

A Syrian official has insisted it would "never, under any circumstances" use such weapons, "if such weapons exist".

The situation thickens more and more....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20590129

Note: 4 December 2012 Last updated at 05:03 GMT

[Skybird]

Asking once again: what is the threat?

Hint: In the German Bundestag, behind the stage curtain it is openly discussed that Turkey will demand the system to stay in Turkey once the "operation" is over. Germany probably will sell them. And Turkey since long time has tried to gain access to this system.

And Turkey? It complains about its sovereignity being violated by straying bullets and misled shells. But it frequently penetrates into Iraki air space and conducts ground operations on Iraqi soil against PKK fighters - dedicated military operations, not just some shells misled. It also violated Syrian air space and provoked that infamous "incident" where one Turkish fighters was shot down by Syrian AD - inside Syrian air space, it seems.

Bow to the big Ottoman, bow to bigger-than-big Erdoghan, everybody!

[Gerald]

Turkey, would probably be happy to Syria causes trouble with their shells across the border so that they get an excuse to carry out their operation.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Asking once again: what is the threat?

Hint: In the German Bundestag, behind the stage curtain it is openly discussed that Turkey will demand the system to stay in Turkey once the "operation" is over. Germany probably will sell them. And Turkey since long time has tried to gain access to this system.

And Turkey? It complains about its sovereignity being violated by straying bullets and misled shells. But it frequently penetrates into Iraki air space and conducts ground operations on Iraqi soil against PKK fighters - dedicated military operations, not just some shells misled. It also violated Syrian air space and provoked that infamous "incident" where one Turkish fighters was shot down by Syrian AD - inside Syrian air space, it seems.

Bow to the big Ottoman, bow to bigger-than-big Erdoghan, everybody!

Turkey is a NATO member and despite the fact the cold war is no more she still has a natural border with Russia/Georgia.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Turkey is a NATO member and despite the fact the cold war is no more she still has a natural border with Russia/Georgia.

So we now speak about a Russian attack on Turkey...? Or a Georgian retaliation for being diplomatically avoided?

The Turks did not claim wanting Patriots due to Russia. Their claim is Syria. But I think Assad currenbtly has better things to do than trying to igntie a war with Turkey. If he would attack Turkey, then two German Patriot batteries in Turkey's south-east would be his smallest problem.

BTW I am not happy to have the new Turkey in NATO anyway. The former one was okay, and it was reliable. Since the AKP set back the clocks, it is no longer neither okay, nor reliable. Quite the opposite, it is highly unpredictable, and aggressive now, openly acting against NATO'S and Europe's interest. Not to mention the confrontation with the EU.

[Armistead]

Geesh, all we need to do is give such technology to a fast becoming radical state.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

So we now speak about a Russian attack on Turkey...? Or a Georgian retaliation for being diplomatically avoided?

The Turks did not claim wanting Patriots due to Russia. Their claim is Syria. But I think Assad currenbtly has better things to do than trying to igntie a war with Turkey. If he would attack Turkey, then two German Patriot batteries in Turkey's south-east would be his smallest problem.

BTW I am not happy to have the new Turkey in NATO anyway. The former one was okay, and it was reliable. Since the AKP set back the clocks, it is no longer neither okay, nor reliable. Quite the opposite, it is highly unpredictable, and aggressive now, openly acting against NATO'S and Europe's interest. Not to mention the confrontation with the EU.

I doubt we will witness Turkey leaving the NATO ranks.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I doubt we will witness Turkey leaving the NATO ranks.

I never said they would. I just sometimes dreamed loud of a world where they would, however. Dreaming is allowed, or not?

One could maybe motivate them. By establishing a barrage of constant diplomatic affronts and frustrations, like they do with the EU over Cyprus. Forgetting invitations to conferences, meeting staff from second and third lineup only, getting tough over Cyprus, establishing military procedures and routines that they cannot meet, deleting privileged and cost-reduced arms sales and weapon gifts given for free but billing the full market price, and so on. Making them feel unwelcomed. Making them feel like wanting to leave all by themselves.

Difficult with the US and with Germany, though, boith will lobby hard to keep them at all cost. The US is the only reason why Turkish guest workers even moved to Germany in huge numbers in the first. Germany had already said No to Turks moving to Germany when Washington started a so far unprecedented diplomatic pressure offensive to make Germany comply with its demand. A chapter of history that today many people simply do not know anymore when claiming that Germany voluntarily invited them. That is not true, and never was. Also forgotten is that originally the treaty finally signed included a passage saying that after 2 years they all had to move back and that bringing their families to Germany was not allowed. Tja...

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I never said they would. I just sometimes dreamed loud of a world where they would, however. Dreaming is allowed, or not?

One could maybe motivate them. By establishing a barrage of constant diplomatic affronts and frustrations, like they do with the EU over Cyprus. Forgetting invitations to conferences, meeting staff from second and third lineup only, getting tough over Cyprus, establishing military procedures and routines that they cannot meet, deleting privileged and cost-reduced arms sales and weapon gifts given for free but billing the full market price, and so on. Making them feel unwelcomed.

Too much export competition within each NATO country to even contemplate that...times are hard you know