US State Department and NATO prepares for war [?]

Following an attack on the U.S. Embassy and Ambassador’s residence on July 11, 2011, the embassy reduced non-U.S. citizen services and instituted more stringent security procedures. As incitement and harassment of embassy personnel increased, U.S. officers were gradually evacuated. On February 6, 2012, the United States temporarily suspended embassy operations and removed all U.S. direct hire personnel from Syria. After the revelation of the Houla massacre, the U.S. State Department declared that Syrian chargé d'affaires in Washington was given 72 hours to leave the country.

Currently the Polish Government serves as the remaining protecting power for U.S. interests in Syria.

(source: state.gov)




"State Department condemned this act as unjustified and have cited as an example of the recklessness of the security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
“On a political level, NATO is taking the Turks at their word,” said a senior United States official who has reviewed classified reports of the episode.

One senior NATO diplomat said that even if the Turks were spying on Syria’s military readiness, it should not alter the international reaction. “When this happens between neighboring countries, you give a warning and then send up interceptors,” said the official, who was not authorized to speak on the record. “You don’t just shoot down the plane. This might be a prelude to a greater war in the region and who knows where else?"

(Source: NYT Eric Schmitt, Sebnem Arsu from Istanbul and
Rod Nordland from Beirut, Lebanon )

reply to post by johncarter


Here comes democracy....

“You don’t just shoot down the plane. This might be a prelude to a greater war in the region and who knows where else?"

I wonder if America would do the same if Russian Migs were just flying over the US territory. Perhaps spying even. Would they be so understanding.

Originally posted by MarioOnTheFly
reply to post by johncarter

 

Here comes democracy....

“You don’t just shoot down the plane. This might be a prelude to a greater war in the region and who knows where else?"

I wonder if America would do the same if Russian Migs were just flying over the US territory. Perhaps spying even. Would they be so understanding.

Actually according to history, the US will stumble and stutter until the jets crash into a building.
But I agree, a foreign jet over MY SOIL, your worm food.

If you pay half attention to the news the last 50 years you would understand that the US "escorts" Russian bombers out of US air space all the time in Alaska.

Originally posted by moderateAmerican
If you pay half attention to the news the last 50 years you would understand that the US "escorts" Russian bombers out of US air space all the time in Alaska.

Same in Norway. Russian jets are always flying over the Russian border in to Norwegian airspace and it always ends in Norwegian jets having to escort the Russian jets out of Norway.

I think it's just the Russians doing some everyday reconnaissance or something like that. Maybe testing how long it takes the Norwegian to respond, etc, etc.

“You don’t just shoot down the plane. This might be a prelude to a greater war in the region and who knows where else?"

To be honest he has a point, many times, RAF aircraft have escorted nosey Russian planes from out of UK Airspace, imagine if the UK had just simply shot them down without warning. Yes it's an invasion of airspace, but shooting the plane down was a mistake on Syria's part, they should have warned them away first.

Peace :-)