Turkish Media Say Saudi Arabia, Turkey May Strike In Syria

The New York Times ^ | February 13, 2016 | By The Associated Press

[Jeff Head]

I never said they would do something because Turkey “may” do anything. Those seem to be your words.

I implied that if Russia and/or Iran attacked Turkey, across Turkey’s birders, then NATO would, by treaty, be moved to act.

The NATO alliance is set up to where an attack on one is an attack on all.

That’s a huge difference to responding to something Turkey may do.

[Jeff Head]

Clearly there are those in Turkey who may want that...but NATO should not react, and would not be bound to act based on what Turkey does itself across the border into Syria.

The big question comes if Russia/Syria/ or Iran attacks Turkey across its borders.

In that case, NATO would have to very carefully weight what has happened and why before ever invoking the mutual defense part of the treaty.

Turkey came into NATO in 1952, it and Greece were the first two countries outside the founding members who joined the alliance.

At the time, with the Cold War and the need to have positions along the southern Black Sea, it was very understandable. But IMHO, its population and strong Islamic makeup was something that was always out there, particularly there in the Mid East, that could cause potential problems for NATO.

Now it may be coming to that.

[MasterGunner01]

Quite right that the Turks are tough fighters. However, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been purging the military of officers loyal to the Turkish Republic and replacing them with officers loyal to him and his fundamentalist brand of Islam. Whether this purge of the high ranking officers has affected Turkish military capabilities is uncertain.

[caww]

Nato has already sent Ships to monitor the coast of Turkey...as said to stop refugees from crossing.... I think they do know Erdogan is using the refugees to barter with...both as a weapon and holding this over Brussels head in order to also fill his coffers.

I agree Nato should not act....but I also believe Erdogan will continue to up his game and do whatever he needs to to provoke Nato’s involvement. Which would include inciting Russia to attack them directly...thus Turkey as a NAto member requires they act to defend Turkey.....I don’t know what they could do to NOT support Turkey except stall.