Posted on 06/03/2005 5:47:31 PM PDT by blam
Syria fires Scuds over Turkey 'to taunt US'
By Tim Butcher, Middle East Correspondent
(Filed: 04/06/2005)
Syria has staged a defiant display of strategic firepower by test-firing Scud missiles for the first time in four years, Israeli security sources said yesterday.
The officials, citing intelligence data, said the missiles, using North Korean technology and designed to carry chemical warheads, were launched last week from northern Syria.
One missile was fired towards the Mediterranean, the Israeli officials said, and broke up over the Turkish province of Hatay, shedding debris over two villages.
Israeli security sources said Syria's attempt to fire a missile over Turkey, a Nato country, was intended as a snub to America.
Washington has led a fierce campaign against Syria over the past year, blaming it for backing insurgents in Iraq and leading the chorus that forced Damascus to withdraw from Lebanon.
It is believed Israel has acquired film footage of the launches, which involved two Scud D variants, with a range of 400 miles, and one Scud B, with a range of 190 miles.
There have been suspicions that Syria has been buying missile technology from North Korea, and Israel will analyse what advances it has made in terms of targeting.
Any evidence that Syria can accurately launch Scud missiles, possibly with air-dispersed chemical weapons, raises dramatically the likelihood of pre-emptive Israeli military action.
When Israel was hit by Scuds launched by Saddam Hussein's regime in 1991, it was persuaded not to retaliate by evidence that the missiles were inaccurate and had modest payloads.
America was silent about the latest Syrian launches, but Turkey confirmed that missile debris had landed around two villages in the southern province of Hatay.
The Turkish foreign ministry said Syria had assured it that the incident was "just an accident'' during routine military training.
I taunted them back by waving my private parts at their Auntie.
What's a little stray missile between nations ?
Ummmm... Because Daisy Cutters are dropped from C130 aircraft, not B52's for one thing.
Except those missiles had to pass over/through Turkish airspace - still a violation of sovereignty and and act of war.
No doubt that SF has been there. There have been several reports, and this last operation I'm sure infiltrated into Syria. There is plenty of disinformation on the subject as well, to inflame the Muslims. Task Force 121 was reported to have operated in Syria...this from Aljazeera.
True. From the reaction of the Turks, I wouldn't be surprised if they were notified of the launch.
They stiffed us in Afghanistan.
Actually, it was on Iran. We should work on helping Israel strengthen its air defense systems. That's the real target as well as US troops.
The Bekaa valley is in Lebanon. If there should be any "accidental" explosions, they should be in Damascus.
.....What about the Turkey?....
If Syria attacks Turkey from the rear, would Greece help?
They fired two inland and the third went ballistic and astray into the Med. Even the Syrians don't want this type of incident. The same as the Israeli's when they test fire their ballistics into the Med. They would have announced maritime closure areas to prevent a potential disaster.
I knew what you meant :-)
No kidding. Most countries would consider a diliberate launching of a missile at them to be an act of war. What is Turkey's problem?
With all due respect, the anger at Turkey might be a tad misplaced.
Working at home and having FNC on right next to me I followed this closely as possible and what got glossed over and somewhat ignored was that this our State Dept and specifically Colin Powell's faux pas (excuse the french).Turkey had a newly elected National Assembly and face to face diplomacy (smoozing) was required ASAP. Something which Powell refused to do because "he hated to travel" (not good for a SOS). The jerk thought all he had to do was make a couple phone calls and say, "oh, we're landing some troops on YOUR shores and launching an attack next Tuesday". That's hubris and borders on utter incompetence.
But yeah at first I was ticked at Turkey too but when I found out how Powell personally dropped the ball I went apoplectic - at HIM. Next to Maddy Not-so-bright, he should go down as the NEXT worst SOS in US History. The whole 4ID fiasco floating at sea is HIS fault - period. And this resulting 'insurgency' too, as they would have been wiped out.
That being said, as to France screw them.
When we do go into Syria with our AF, we should accidentally drop a few 'dumb bombs' over Paris - and then soundly scold some Airman First Class (E3) for the 'oops' (and then promote him).
A snub to America? Oookaaay.
MSG to boy Assad: The next to last country you want to pi$$ off are the Turks. They will most assuredly put your head on a pike.
Oh, and Bashir, tick tick tick...
5.56mm
um, no. But there is a huge difference from being a lame-duck President and being a lame-duck CIC! (a huge difference and GWB is not a lame-duck CIC at all!) - That isn't too hard to understand...now is it? - If so let the adults in the WH handle it (they are).
Nor is he in the political sense even a lame-duck President at this point (taking on large issues like Soc Sec reform doesn't win out coming from a LD).
Without a doubt this is true - Though you will not see any direct assaults on any HVT within Syria by US SOF (the odds of that are extremely remote).
"Syria gets it... our lame duck administration can't do anything about what Syria does."
blah, blah, blah....
Nobody care what Syria does. It's a little $#!T hole country that just got it's butt kick out of a country the size of San Francisco.
THEY ARE NOTHING
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
Not only did Turkey stiff us in Afghanistan, but they tried to blackmail us for $30 billion Dollars for use of their domestic bases in order to launch a northern front during Operation Iraqi Freedom. What sickens me is how many American and innocent Iraqi lives could have been saved if we had been allowed use of their bases. The hell with them.
Ridiculous. Even if it were true, the best case excuse is they stiffed us in a matter of such importance and urgency because powell hurt their feelings? Don't make excuses for them or give any credence to any lame excuses they have for themselves.
So why don't we just make it an american province?
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