[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

If Turkey goes to war with Russia, we are at war with Russia because of the NATO agreement.

[demshateGod]

Just like WWI. Things just fall into place because of a bunch of stupid alliances and stupid leaders.

[Raycpa]

Obama following a treaty?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

You presuppose Obama will honir our committments and has a pair of gonads.

This (if it really happened) is more likely to result in NATO crumbling due to Ozero failing to honor our committments than us going to war with Russia

[libbylu]

not with Bambi. He does what he wants.

[DesertRhino]

“If Turkey goes to war with Russia, we are at war with Russia because of the NATO agreement.”

Not if Turkey starts the shooting.

[Netz]

Obama will back out, don’t worry...

[Fhios]

Uh, yea but the U.S has to actually follow through, as do the other countries.

Turkey shoots down Russian Migs? My imagination can come up with scenarios where Turkey deliberately pulls us into a conflict with Russia as part of a dark subterfuge in the Islamic world to bring about world conflict.

[ecomcon]

Obama is not bound by treaty, law, or honor.

[PJBankard]

That is not entirely correct. If Turkey acted in aggression outside of Turkish airspace (which is speculated where the downing occurred) we are not necessarily obliged to defend them, even if initially the plane was in Turkish airspace. Outside of Turkish airspace, Turkey would have to prove that Russia initiated a hostile action first, and that the downing was in response to that action. Turkey would have to release the in-flight records to NATO.

And yes, while Russia entering Turkish airspace is considered a hostile action, if Russian aircraft left Turkish airspace before further aggression occurred, Russian aircraft would have to commit another action to be considered the aggressor.

And stemming from that, there is a high possibility that the Russian aircraft was weaving in and out of Turkish airspace along the border. The intent to re-enter Turkish airspace or failure to comply to Turkish requests to not re-enter Turkish airspace would qualify as hostile action and Turkey could act even though the plane may have been in Syrian Airspace at the time of downing.