Turkey's Strategic Importance

NATO today approved the deployment of Patriot anti-missile systems near Turkey's southern border to strengthen defenses against the threat of attacks from Syria. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was present at the meeting and agreed with the decision to deploy the missiles, even though it brings the United States and NATO closer to Syria's civil war. The Patriot missiles will be provided by Germany, The Netherlands and America. Their use will be limited solely to the defensive purpose of warding off mortar rounds and shells from Syria that have already killed five Turks. But the announcement also seemed to be a message to Syrian President Bashar al- Assad's regime concerning yesterday's news that Syria may be readying its chemical weapons stockpiles for possible use. The US-built, NATO-operated Patriot missile system can be used against cruise missiles and medium- and short-range ballistic missiles. Patriot missiles have a range of about 160 kilometers (100 miles) and can reach altitudes of 80,000 feet. Syria has a variety of artillery rockets plus intermediate-range missiles, including Soviet-built SS-21 Scarabs and Scud-B missiles. The Scuds are capable of carrying chemical warheads. Secretary Clinton, speaking after the decision, said it does not bring America or NATO closer to military intervention in Syria. NATO partners later issued a statement stressing that the Patriots "will in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation." Clinton noted that Washington and Moscow still have major differences on the political transition needed in Syria, but the NATO foreign ministers met with Russian foreign minister Lavrov before agreeing to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey. Lavrov said Russia is opposed to the use of chemical weapons in Syria and has no objection to the deployment of the Patriot missile systems. It would appear, dear readers, that NATO and the US are walking a fine line. Protecting Turkey from Syrian missile incursions by deploying Patriot missiles seems to be something of an overkill because very few Syrian incursions have occurred. But, the new threat of a Syrian use of chemical weapons and the possibility that al-Assad might aim chemicals at Turkey would better explain the NATO decision just one day after the world learned of the new chemical movements in Syria. NATO Supreme Allied Commander Fogh Rasmussen's comment supports this view : "To anyone who would want to attack Turkey, we say, 'Don't even think about it!'" And all of these actions point to another conclusion - like it or not, Europe needs Turkey's buffer against the Middle East. NATO understands this and long ago made Turkey a NATO member. But, the European Union continues to rebuff Turkey's request to begin the process that would lead to EU membership. If the EU can justify membership for Bulgaria and Romania...two countries that bring only unwanted immigrants and a need for financial support to the EU...surely the EU can accept the fundamental fact of Turkey's strategic importance to Europe and admit Turkey to the EU as soon as possible.