Deployment of NATO Patriot missiles in Turkey, a declaration of war on Syria

TEHRAN,Dec.30(MNA)--The intensification of violence in Syria and the rebels’ inability to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad finally compelled Western and Arab governments to adopt new measures to realize their objectives in the country. NATO’s plan to deploy the Patriot missile system on the Turkey-Syria border is viewed by political analysts as a new ploy by Western and Arab governments to impose more pressure on the Syrian government and its allies, namely Iran and Russia. Ankara’s repeated claims that the Syrian government is launching missiles and airstrikes against the opposition have provided NATO the pretext for deploying the Patriot missiles. The United States, Germany, and the Netherland are the most fervent supporters of the decision in NATO and have even agreed to dispatch technicians to Turkey to assist in the deployment. NATO officials keep insisting that the main objective of the plan is to deter Syria from firing missiles into Turkey. However, pundits say that the decision is clearly meant to pave the way for foreign intervention in Syria. In other words, the decision is in fact a clear declaration of war on Syria and its major supporters. Despite their provision of military and financial support to the Syrian rebels for more than 21 months, Western governments and their regional allies have been unable to create the conditions for foreign military intervention. And the plan to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey is actually an extension of the Western-Arab front’s efforts to escalate the Syria crisis. However, Syria is not in a position to launch airstrikes on Turkey. This point was emphasized by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent trip to Turkey. In other words, the deployment of the Patriot missile system under the pretext of deterring Syria from launching airstrikes on Turkey is completely unjustifiable, and the plan has obviously been devised to help the anti-Syrian front achieve their objectives. Meanwhile, many Turkish citizens have criticized the decision to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey. Turkish opposition figures say the decision will not benefit Turkey in any way and may even harm the country’s interests over the long term. Turkey’s Muslim masses are also very concerned about their government’s continued hostility toward Syria and believe this stance will harm the country’s interests in the Muslim world. Siamak Kakayi is a political analyst and expert on Turkey and Iraq based in Tehran. (By Siamak Kakayi )