Iran warns against Patriot deployment on Syria frontier

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Iran's army chief of staff warned NATO on Saturday that stationing Patriot anti-missile batteries on Turkey's border with Syria was setting the stage for world war.

General Hassan Firouzabadi, whose country has been a staunch supporter of President Bashar al-Assad throughout the 21-month uprising against his rule, called on the Western military alliance to reverse its decision to deploy the defence system.

"Each one of these Patriots is a black mark on the world map, and is meant to cause a world war," Firouzabadi said, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency. "They are making plans for a world war and this is very dangerous for the future of humanity and for the future of Europe itself."

Despite the warning, Firouzabadi did not threaten any action against Turkey in his speech to senior commanders at the National Defence University in Tehran. "We are Turkey's friend and we want security for Turkey," he said.



Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/15/uk-syria-crisis-idUKBRE8BC0GQ20121215

[iandhr]

1. TS Iran

Turkey is a NATO member who wants the Patriot battery.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Yes - goody gumdrops.

the last time the US had missiles in Turkey was the year before the Cuban missile crisis and they were removed as a result of that.

[tammywammy]

3. The Patriot is a defensive system, not offensive. n/t

[Ash_F]

4. Kind of. It can stop retaliation.

A big part of the decision to attack someone is their ability to hit you back. How many world powers has the US attacked since World War II?

[tammywammy]

5. If Scuds are being used near the border with Turkey, then the Patriot can protect Turkey

They'll be able to shoot down any Scuds that come into Turkey. It could be considered a deterrent from those wanting to lob a few Scuds into Turkey. But it's not an offensive weapon, in that they cannot use Patriot missiles to target areas/land/buildings inside Syria, it works as an anti-aircraft/anti-ballistic weapon only.

[Ash_F]

7. I'm aware of all that.

The point of view on the other side is that, for example, the US could bomb Iran or Syria with impunity from Turkey. They could not do anything to hit back at American bases there if patriots are in place. If the US government knows their bases are safe, thanks to patriots, it becomes an easier decision to attack because they don't have to worry about the political fallout over dead soldiers. It's the same reason bullies pick on the weaker kids.

Also, wrong use of the word deterrent. Scuds would be a deterrent against bombing. Patriots would be enablement (or defense if your intentions are noble... ).

[cstanleytech]

8. Ever heard of aircraft carriers or submarines?

If we really had the intention of hitting Syria or Iran even right now we wouldnt need Turkey to do this, no what this is really about is Iran rattling its little impotent sword at the US yet once again.

[Ash_F]

9. Then we can close the bases in Turkey /nt

[cstanleytech]

10. *shrug* I wouldnt object to that nor to closing the majority of overseas bases. nt

[Ash_F]

11. That's the spirit!

[DeSwiss]

6. ''...setting the stage for world war.''

The stage was set long ago and the play is a long time underway. The question is whether there'll be an Act III.










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[julian09]

12. They sure like to make threaths, wait til they get the nuclear capability,

they will be making a lot of nuclear blackmail, must be republican (guard).