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NATO Deploys Missiles to Turkey-Syria Border

German troops beside a Patriot missile battery during a media rehearsal, Warbelow, Dec. 18, 2012.

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VOA News

January 04, 2013

NATO personnel have begun arriving at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to operate Patriot missiles intended to repel possible airborne attacks related to Syria's nearly two-year old civil war.

Patriot surface-to-air missile battery on a training ground in Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, Feb. 15, 2012 (file photo).

A statement from the U.S. European Command Friday says that more troops and equipment are scheduled to arrive in southern Turkey over the next few days. These are the first batteries of Patriot missiles deployed, to be followed by two more from Germany and the Netherlands, in response to a Turkish request.

Navy Vice Admiral Charles Martoglio, deputy commander of the U.S. European Command, says the Patriot-missile batteries will fall under NATO command when set up along the Turkish-Syrian border, and the systems should be operational by the end of January.

NATO approved the deployment of the surface-to-air missiles early last month after Turkey expressed concerns that Syria could use chemical weapons against its own people. NATO has stressed that the deployment is for "defensive purposes" only.

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by: Michael from: USA

January 05, 2013 9:45 AM

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The efforts put into military technology would be better serving if channeled into efforts for plans for peace such as Mr Brahimi has done

by: Davis K. Thanjan from: New York

January 04, 2013 4:52 PM

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Whether the Patriot missiles of NATO is to protect Turkey from attacks by Syria or not, the presence of these defensive missile system in Turkey serves notice to Iran and Russia of any surprize missile attacks against Turkey and NATO countries in Europe. The Patriots may also be an initial step to establish a no fly zone in Syria. The Axis of Evil formed by Syria, Iran and Russia need not be concerned of these defensive moves of NATO as long as they do not have an offensive military agenda against Turkey or other NATO countries.

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NATO Deploys Missiles to Turkey-Syria Border

<h1>NATO Deploys Missiles to Turkey-Syria Border</h1><img src="http://www.voanews.com/App_Themes/VOA_en-US/img/colorLogo.gif"/><div> NATO personnel have begun arriving at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to operate Patriot missiles intended to repel possible airborne attacks related to Syria's nearly two-year old civil war.</div> <div>  </div> <div class="tag_image tag_image5 floatLeft" mode="img|expand|3D706A55-34C8-433D-8A3F-CDA2E6B73325.jpg|5|floatLeft||0#0#0|1"> <img src="http://gdb.voanews.eu/3D706A55-34C8-433D-8A3F-CDA2E6B73325_cw0_cy0_cx0_r1_w268.jpg" />Patriot surface-to-air missile battery on a training ground in Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, Feb. 15, 2012 (file photo).</div> <div> A statement from the U.S. European Command Friday says that more troops and equipment are scheduled to arrive in southern Turkey over the next few days. These are the first batteries of Patriot missiles deployed, to be followed by two more from Germany and the Netherlands, in response to a Turkish request.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Navy Vice Admiral Charles Martoglio, deputy commander of the U.S. European Command, says the Patriot-missile batteries will fall under NATO command when set up along the Turkish-Syrian border, and the systems should be operational by the end of January.</div> <div>  </div> <div> NATO approved the deployment of the surface-to-air missiles early last month after Turkey expressed concerns that Syria could use chemical weapons against its own people. NATO has stressed that the deployment is for "defensive purposes" only.</div><link rel="canonical" href="http://www.voanews.com/content/nato-deploys-patriot-missiles-to-turkey-syria-border/1578008.html"/><meta name="syndication-source" content="http://www.voanews.com/content/nato-deploys-patriot-missiles-to-turkey-syria-border/1578008.html"/><img src="http://livetracker.voanews.eu/counter.lt?PageType=256&RecordId=1578008&SiteId=415&r=749642954&it=0&pd=20130104203518&url=ArticleID1578008" alt="" style="border:none;" height="1" width="1">

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