NATO Condemns Syria; It’ll End There
My latest for The National Interest, "Ankara Puts NATO on Speed Dial," has been posted.
My latest for The National Interest, “Ankara Puts NATO on Speed Dial,” has been posted. It’s an updated version of my Saturday morning posting “Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet.”
I submitted the piece yesterday afternoon. Since then, NATO has issued a declaration that “We consider this act to be unacceptable and condemn it in the strongest terms. It is another example of the Syrian authorities’ disregard for international norms, peace and security, and human life” and Turkey has declared that ”Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria by posing a security risk and danger will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target.”
Barring seriously stupid actions on the part of Syria, I expect that to be as far as this goes.
I’m always a little nervous when a good outcome depends on human beings not doing something seriously stupid.
@Doug Mataconis: Yes, indeed. Always a necessary caveat, I’m afraid.
And never bet on the prudence of a dictator nearing the end of his rope.
It’s likely all NATO will do. But I have a very high confidence Turkey will respond on its own.
Turkey appears to disagree:
Turkey dubs Syria ‘a clear threat’, vows to retaliate
@Stormy Dragon: It’s a really bad headline. Erdogan has changed the ROE such that anything that looks threatening near the border will be treated as a threat. I don’t think this goes beyond saber rattling.
Send in the drones. And some B52’s for good measure.
Greetings:
This isn’t the same Turkey that wouldn’t let our 4th Infantry Division go a-knocking on Saddam Hussein’s many palace doors, is it ?
Allies ??? Muslims allies with kuffars ??? Sure, that’ll work.
@11B40: I seem to recall France being less than thrilled with that particular war as well. Indeed, most of Europe.