23 June, 2012

Syria and Turkey

Interestingly the BBC led with 'Syria shoots down a Turkish plane' whereas several others had 'Syuria admits to shooting down a Turkish plane'. Perhaps a fine point of expectation or legality but this could be important here.

If the Turkish fighter was indeed inside Syrian airspace then the Turks will be red faced, firstly for making such a cock-up and secondly because the plane seems to have been shot down rather easily.

If, however, the Turkish plane had not crossed into Syrian airspace, then since Turkey is a member of NATO, whose charter says that an attack on one is an attack on all, there had better be some nifty diplomatic footwork.

One sometimes feels guilty about not getting involved but really the last thing we need is an escalation of this conflict.

4 comments:

DAVE PHILLIPS in Reno NV [U.S.A.] said...

THE TURKS ARE NOT "that dumb", IMHO! THEY DON't provoke fights, historically - BUT THEY SHALL RESPOND with "appropriate force"!

DAVE PHILLIPS in Reno NV [U.S.A.] said...

TIM - HERE ARE SOME MORE TRULY "nightmare scenarios" - NONE GOOD and ALL BAD, IMHO! ** NATO meets in emergency session: Agrees to 'bloody' ASAD's nose! CREATES = Yet another refusgee problem in Lebanon: Intolerable for Israel and Jordon, too! ** TURKS tired of awaiting a NATO response, unilaterally responds in kind! ** Alternatively: The alleged Russian HIND helicopters were found to be refurbished and en route BACK to Moterh Russia! MEANING: US State Department INR had faulty HUMINT! ** No wonder the US DNI [General Clapper] remains "fit to be tied" at recent start-up of some inter alia "creative tension" from DoD new Defense Clandestine Service, just formed within the Pentagon! ** TIME TO CALL IN = Sir BRIAN URQUHART - a legendary "UN peace- maker and peace keeper" in the days prior! -30-

DAVE PHILLIPS in Reno NV [U.S.A.] said...

TIM = "The TIMES of ISRAEL" [Jerusalem] has updated its original coverage as of 9:50 p.m. [local] on SAturday, June 23rd.

Unknown said...

NOW Syria's ASSAD has spoken -- Wishing publicly thus: That the shot down TURKISH jet figthter [on reconnaissance mission] HAD BEEN ISRAELI! ** DOES HE REALLY WISH THAT, in truth? -30-