TURKEY: Ankara suspicious that Israel's security behind U.S. push for regional missile shield
LA Times
25-Oct-2010

Ballistic_Missile_Defense_System_(BMDS)_
Is the United States using NATO to protect its special friend in the
Middle East: Israel?

That's what Turkey suspects may be behind a
U.S.-led push for an anti-missile defense system in Turkey, intended to
ward off an Iranian attack.

According to a report published
Monday in the Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman, Ankara has sought and
reportedly received explicit assurances from the U.S. that intelligence
gathered using the missile shield's sensors will not be shared with
Israel.

American officials have not been shy about fingering
Israel's enemy, Iran, as the major reason for deploying the system,
citing Iranian threats to Europe. But the article in Today's Zaman was
rife with skepticism, pointing out that as a non-member, Israel is not
eligible for protection from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"In
fact, given the unpredictability of the security situation across the
globe, it is possible that the missile defense system could even be used
against Israel some day in the future," the article said. "NATO is an
organization that operates on the principle of collective defense and an
attack on an ally is considered an attack on the entire alliance."

It
wouldn't be the first time that the U.Ss. was torn between its
allegiance to NATO and its historic friendship ... >>>

recommended by IranMilitaryForum.net

Share/Save/Bookmark