To War Or Not To War

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is very angry.  Turkey is prepared to defend its citizens and its borders, and its dedication to that first of all obligations "should not be tested".  But, of course, it has and is being tested.  Deliberately, under the guise of misfortune in the poor aim of Syrian military forces overshooting their mark.  And so, what to do about it, aside from fulminating?

Ah, yes, Turkish artillery shelling back.  The score is now five Turkish citizens dead, two Syrian soldiers killed.  Still, Turkey wishes to impress upon its NATO colleagues that the country is not interested in war.  Funny, that; neither is its neighbour Syria interested in war.  With its neighbours, in any event.

It is far too busily engaged mounting its war on Syrians, flying its jet fighters over Aleppo, for example and bombing the hell out of that ancient city and its residents.

Spillover into neighbouring border towns doesn't really count beyond unfortunate mischief.  Mr. Erdogan speaks of his former friend and colleague in the most scathing of terms.  However, that there are likely dozens of Iranian Republican Guard units in Syria aiding and assisting its drive to turn back the tide of revolution hasn't disturbed Ankara's relationship with Tehran.  Figure that one out.

Economics, perhaps?  The European Union has decided to extend its embargo on Iranian energy, poised to ban imports of Iranian gas in another package of sanctions.  "There is agreement on gas.  The big states back it, Germany, Britain France".  Greece and Bulgaria do receive gas through Turkey which blends Iranian gas with Azeri gas and ships it out; Turkey is expected to ignore the ban.

That aside, Mr. Erdogan insists "The Turkish Republic is a state capable of defending its citizens and borders.  Nobody should try and test our determination on this subject."  Well, Syria has lobbed four mortar shells over the border, and that tests Turkey's determination.  "We don't want to be in a war, but if they push us to war, we will have war", according to Akcakale resident, Mustafa Taka.

One resident of the town where two women and three children of one family were killed by Syrian shells claimed that up to 70% of the town had left to take refuge in another nearby city.  "We don't feel safe.  We are worried."  Turkish armoured vehicles have been moved to the border, gun turrets poised to discharge toward the Syrian side.

A reluctant apology of sorts was pressured upon Syria by Russia, too late to turn the Turkish parliament aside from its vote authorizing the use of force in Syria.