MoneypuckOverlord Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-19838470 Turkey PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan 'not to start Syria war' People in the Turkish town of Akcakale mourn after the burial of the five victims of the Syrian shellingContinue reading the main story Syria conflict Turkey seeks actionAssad heartlandBombed from aboveGuide to conflict Turkey's PM has said his country has no intention of starting a war, after parliament in Ankara authorised military action inside Syria. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the authorisation was purely deterrence but he also warned that his country's determination should not be tested. Parliament earlier approved military action in response to Syria's deadly shelling of a Turkish town. The UN has condemned the Syrian attack "in the strongest terms". A statement by the Security Council called on the Syrian government to "fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours". It said the incident "highlighted the grave impact the crisis in Syria has on the security of its neighbours and on regional peace and stability". Continue reading the main story Analysis Jeremy Bowen BBC Middle East editor Turkey has sent a strong signal to the Assad regime in Damascus, warning that any more attacks on its people would carry severe consequences. The parliamentary vote approving military operations outside Turkish territory gives the government in Ankara what it needs to make deterrence credible. The Turks believe the apology from Damascus shows the message has been received. Turkey has already taken sides in Syria's civil war, supporting the armed rebellion and calling for the end of the Damascus regime. It's clear that any military moves it made would benefit the rebels. Given Turkey's considerable military power, and membership of Nato, it would be a huge strategic blunder for Syria to provoke the Turks any further. That doesn't mean it won't happen. The border area is tense, and the main supply route for the rebels. There's a lot of scope for miscalculation - and escalation. Thousands of Turks have gathered in towns and cities across the country to protest against the possibility of going to war with Syria. Turkey's parliament passed a bill on Thursday by 320 to 129 authorising troops to launch cross-border operations against Syria and strikes against Syrian targets for the period of one year. The closed-doors, emergency session vote followed Wednesday's shelling of the Turkish town of Akcakale, which killed two women and three children. Turkey responded by shelling targets inside Syria - the first time it had done so in the 18-month-long unrest there. Syria's UN envoy said two Syrian army officials were injured in the retaliatory shelling. 'No to war!' Mr Erdogan said at a news conference in Akcakale on Thursday evening: "We want peace and security and nothing else. We could never be interested in something like starting a war." But he added: "The Turkish Republic is a state capable of defending its citizens and borders. Nobody should try and test our determination on this subject." Mr Erdogan also questioned suggestions that the shelling could have been an accident, saying Syrian shells had fallen on seven other occasions since the unrest began. "Even today we had a shell landing in Hatay city, Altinozu district," he said. "One time is an accident... but how is this an accident when it happens eight times?" On Thursday evening thousands of people gathered in Istanbul's Taksim Square for an anti-war rally. Demonstrators chanted: "No to war! Peace now! We won't be soldiers of imperialists!" Some banners accused Mr Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) of being a stooge of the US. Bedri Baykam, a Turkish artist and activist, said: "[The] United States wants Turkey to enter war against Syria because there are elections coming in the United States. Obama doesn't want to send American troops so the Turkish army serves as their tool but we don't want to be part of the bloodshed in the Middle East."Continue reading the main story Akcakale Akcakale is a district of southern Sanliurfa province, close to the border with SyriaThe last published census in 2000 shows its population stood at just over 77,000It is just under 50km (31 miles) from the Syrian border town of Tall al-Abyad and about 240 km (150 miles) from AleppoThe area surrounding the town is known for its archaeological excavations Sources: Turkish Statistical Institute, Sanliurfa MunicipalityUnderlying tensionsStrikes in Syria: Turks reactIn pictures: Turkey-Syria tensionTurkish media fear consequences of war Other, smaller anti-war protests were reported in Izmir, Mersin, Eskisehir and other cities and towns. A few dozen people chanting "we don't war" had also earlier protested in Ankara, with police firing tear gas to stop them reaching parliament. Many social media users in Turkey also reacted strongly against the possibility of war with Syria. Hashtags such as #notowar drew a lot of attention. An online survey by the Hurriyet newspaper suggested 60% opposed the parliamentary bill. However, many Turks voiced support for the retaliatory shelling. At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was "alarmed by escalating tensions along the Syrian-Turkish border", according to his spokesman, Martin Nesirky, and has called for "maximum restraint". US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Turkey's retaliatory shelling was appropriate, proportionate and designed to protect its sovereignty. Syria's UN envoy, Bashar Jaafari, said his country had offered deepest condolences over the deaths, but not an apology, because an investigation into the incident had not been completed. Zeliha Timucin, her three daughters and her sister died in Akcakale when a shell fell in their courtyard as they prepared the evening meal. They were buried in a local cemetery on Thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 The world is going to hell in a handbasket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KING ALBERTS Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 lol. how can a turkey accomplish that? especially at this time of year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
:D Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Regardless of how serious this is and will become, the thread title immediately made me think of some launching a turkey across the border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliboy Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 This can now get out of control very easily, especially if any other countries get involved, then NATO will have to come in. Turkey has a large military and about 240 F-16's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 http://www.bbc.com/n...europe-19838470 The Government of Turkey despite saying "they do not want war" is authorized to send troops into doing Milatery offences into Syrian Targets. I find this total B.S, as when you do send troops into another country, to some extent, it's an act of war. Just like when Japan invaded China during the 2nd Sino Japanese war, and they have intentions of iengaging Syria Milatery targets. Of course this is welcoming news to the FSA, however thats not the point. I find this total bs, that they "they do not want war' but will engage against Syrian Targets. My point is this is a huge concern. Turkey will now probably side with The FSA. The problem is now, Iran might counter by sending troops to Syria also to support the government. (Iran is currrently supporting the Syrian army) however sources are unconfirmed, and a lot of frabrication is in place to make a country look like an enemy. Then another country might join Turkey! The Americans especially will use this excuse to delcare war on Iran, because Iran is in another country. Anyways what do you guys think? I think this is a huge concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudson bay rules Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Better the local countries settle this crap than Nato, the UN or the Ameicans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dittohead Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Yes it's BS that Syria can fire rockets into another country and not expect a response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 So strange how quickly things change. Just before the civil war in Syria, Turkey and Syria were having joint military exercises and looked like they might be forming an alliance against Israel: http://www.haaretz.com/news/barak-joint-turkey-syria-military-drill-very-troubling-for-israel-1.274928 Now things have gone off the rails between those two countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 So strange how quickly things change. Just before the civil war in Syria, Turkey and Syria were having joint military exercises and looked like they might be forming an alliance against Israel: http://www.haaretz.c...israel-1.274928 Now things have gone off the rails between those two countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Regardless of how serious this is and will become, the thread title immediately made me think of some launching a turkey across the border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliboy Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 I thought of the same thing. In my mind I thought of Turkeys flying across and just attacking people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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