Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Turkey-Syria Closer to Conflict


I may not be the most well versed in military strategy, but the latest movements by Turkey indicate we might be watching the beginning stretches of a wider, bloodier Arab conflict emerge out of Syria, which has been embroiled in civil war for the past nineteen months between rebels and regime loyalists.

Among the reasons I expect the conflict to escalate is Turkey's massive build up of thousands of soldiers, of dozens of planes and tons of equipment to the hostile border region they share with Syria. Add to that their Chief of Staff, General Ozel just threatened greater force if cross-border shelling continues, and NATO told the world they have Turkey's back, and we have a situation ripe for war.

Oh, and not to mention, but the United States Military has been on the ground monitoring the situation with the Jordanians since May. Helping our allies watch for chemical and biological weaponry possessed by al-Assad's forces, deal with the over two hundred thousand refugees that have flooded across the border and help set up a headquarters in Annan.

Now you see why I expect greater conflict?

Syria keeps poking the Turkish military in its side, and that course of action has failed miserably - as they've prompted the Turks to build up along the border, threatening war, while their allies in NATO reassure them of their support and the United States is only a few hundred miles away monitoring the entire situation. It's a matter of time before someone fires off the wrong rocket that triggers it...

What say you?




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