There is no doubt that Turkey is acting as a proxy for NATO, particularly with the seizure from the Moscow originated airliner. This situation is very
dangerous. NATO is in effect blockading Russian arms aid to Syria, even if only sporadically. Remember the tanker with Russian helicopters that was
prevented from going to Syria?
NATO is not playing footsie with Russia under the table. They are kicking their shins under the table.
Russia must make up its mind about what it wants to do about Syria, go along with NATO or support Assad in meaningful ways, i.e., with military
support flown through Iranian airspace.
The diplomatic games are coming to an end on the issue of Syria.
Chess is Russia's game but this is different. This is speed chess, New York style. You can bet that the Americans are ready for any decision Russia
makes. They want to push the Syrian gambit to a conclusion, because they have something else in mind.
It seems clear that NATO, having been stymied in its attempt to oust Assad using methods tried successfully in Libya against Gaddafi, have now decided
to topple Assad by means of war between Turkey and Syria.
Turkey has been wrangling with Syria for a long while now in the eastern province of Sirnak, where it accuses Syria of doing with the Kurds, what
Syria accuses Turkey of doing with the Free Syrian Army, i.e., letting them operate just over the border, out of reach. New Year's Eve 2011/12 Turkey
accidentally killed a lot of Kurdish diesel smugglers from Iraq, thinking they were PKK insurgents.
Mistakes happen. Even Turkey makes those kinds of mistakes, but this latest situation is deeper and much more important.
edit on 11-10-2012 by
ipsedixit because: (no reason given)
edit on 11-10-2012 by ipsedixit because: (no reason given)