NATO airbase in Turkey to assume a central role in a possible war on Syria

 

By: Cem Ertür

Source: Global Research

http://www.globalresearch.ca/nato-airbase-in-turkey-to-assume-a-central-role-in-a-possible-war-on-syria/5310474

According to plans prepared by the US and Turkey, Pirinclik Air Base (*) , which is the closest NATO air base to Syria, will assume a central role in the event of an operation against Syria; reports Hurriyet daily.

A delegation of 20 officials from the United States European Command (EUCOM) inspected the air base in Diyarbakir for two days to assess its current readiness for a possible military action.

(*) Hurriyet’s report refers to the NATO base in Diyarbakir as “2nd Air Force Command” [headquarters], instead of ‘Pirinclik Air Base’. Although the US Department of Defence announced the return of the Pirinclik Air Base to the Turkish Armed Forces in 1997, the base is still being used as one of the 24 NATO bases across Turkey and hosts NATO’s early-warning radar system.

It is also worth noting that another NATO’s Incirlik Air Base in Adana (southern Turkey) is in a similar proximity to Turkey’s border with Syria. Incirlik is currently being used as a command center of NATO-led covert operations against Syria.

Sources:

1) Operasyonel mekanizmada ilk adım

[The first step through the operational mechanism]

Hurriyet, 31 October 2012

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/21820659.asp

2) Turkish military denies presence of US troops in Diyarbakır

Today’s Zaman, 31 October 2012

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=296791

[Notes: Excerpts from Hurriyet’s report have been translated and edited by Cem Ertür. Today's Zaman is the English version of the Turkish newspaper Zaman]

 

Clinton urges Kyrgyzstan on Manas

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122996§ionid=351020406


US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called interim Kyrgyz leader Roza Otun-baye-va after Bishkek announced it would close a Key US military base in the country.

"Secretary Clinton spoke to Ms. Roza Otun-baye-va to support the efforts of the Kyrgyz administration to resolve peacefully Kyrgyzstan's current political problems," AFP quoted US spokesman P.J. Crowley as saying.

Clinton spoke about "the important role Kyrgyzstan plays in hosting the Transit Center at the Manas Airport," Crowley said on Saturday.

He added that Otun-baye-va confirmed the Kyrgyz administration would abide by previous agreements regarding the Center.

According to the spokesman, Clinton will send Assistant Secretary Robert Blake to visit Kyrgyzstan to follow up on her discussion.

On Saturday, the US stopped all troop flights to Afghanistan from its controversial air base in Kyrgyzstan, a day after the country's new leadership said it would shorten Pentagon's lease on the Manas military base near the capital.