Posted on 10/18/2019 12:55:48 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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The Trump administration has sanctioned three Turkish ministries and two senior officials (per the agreement, those sanctions will be lifted once the Turks end their operation). France, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands have suspended arms sales. The Pentagon is even evaluating plans for the removal of the 50 nuclear gravity bombs stationed at the Incirlik Air Base.
However, the most significant idea discussed by members of Congress, commentators, and European officials was the termination of Turkey’s membership in NATO. Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested the Turkish incursion against the Kurds in Syria could jeopardize its relations with other NATO states.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely NATO could kick Turkey out of the alliance even if it wanted to. Whether or not Ankara should in fact be removed is up for debate. But going beyond Turkey’s unique situation, the general question of introducing a punitive clause to the NATO charter is very much a legitimate one to consider. Indeed, it is a discussion that should have taken place at the end of the Cold War.
There is no mechanism to remove a NATO member. While Canada proposed an expulsion provision in discussions leading up to the establishment of NATO, the British were hesitant about the idea because it could send a message to the Soviet Union of NATO infighting.
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(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Whatever the form, business as usual is not an option.
The sooner NATO ministers engage in the difficult conversations required to keep everyone honest, the sooner the free-riding and malign behavior can be punished and contained.
Daniel R. DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities.
Is NATO obsolete?
And having hugged the tar baby tightly to its chest, Ber NATO found itself stuck like a bug on fly paper with it.
I would say that it has been obsolete since the invasion of Cyprus in 1973,and that by the early eighties increased aircraft ranges and the nuclear coverage from our sub fleet made other staging areas for those warheads fully viable.
But then, I’ve held and espoused that theory since eighty one.
If nothing else Trump forced Turkey to show their hand. They are an aggressor. They clearly don't share the values of peace based on sound defense.
Imagine the NATO of the past acting like this as the Soviet Union enters West Germany.
We set an example. Even though we at least attempted to recruit other NATO members to join the cause, we were still the primary aggressors.
Turkey thumbed their noses at us back then, yet we tuck tail and move aside to let them finally get their pound of flesh from the PKK (Or whatever they're labeled as these days).
We've sent out so many confusing signals and have not kept our word (line in the sand), it's no wonder Erdogan feels he can do as he pleases with little to no repercussions.
Turkey should be ejected from NATO, but that will not happen as there are too many feckless members in that organization now as it is.
Probably the best bet would be to disband NATO and inform the Europeans that they are expected to fend for themselves going forward. Not that this would ever happen, but it would be for the best, IMO.
I call the authors belief that NATO couldn’t kick out Turkey. If the POTUS ever tells NATO that they have a choice, the US or Turkey, I am certain which option they will choose.
Nonsense. NATO members, outside of Turkey, can collectively, each one independently, under its own laws, stop all military cooperation with Turkey. Then, they can agree to meet, together, outside of Turkey, when they so choose, to coordinate and cooperate with their defense plans and operations. They can all, at the sime time, as a group and indepenently each ban Turkey’s military officials and representatives from their soil. Turkey can then choose to leave NATO instead of their membership existing on paper and no where else.
Erdogan says he is accommodating 3.6 million Syrian refugees, more refugees than any country in the world. This 20 mile buffer zone he wants will allow space for housing most of the refugees and relieve Turkey of overcrowding and other social problems. Is there any merit to his argument??
Unless someone can come up with a reason why it needs to continue then I'd have to say that it is obsolete.
“The Pentagon is even evaluating plans for the removal of the 50 nuclear gravity bombs stationed at the Incirlik Air Base.”
The nukes were removed two years ago.
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