Dutch agree to deploy Patriot missiles on Turkish-Syrian border
Friday 07 December 2012
The Dutch cabinet on Friday agreed to send two Patriot air defence system teams to Turkey to help protect against possible attacks from Syria, the NRC reported.
It will take several weeks before the deployment has been completed, according to media reports. The decision had been widely expected and several hundred Dutch soldiers will be part of the mission.
This is the third time Dutch Patriot missiles have been deployed in Turkey. It happened earlier in 1991 and 2003 as a defence against possible attacks by Sadam Hussein’s Iraq.
Germany has also agreed to send its Patriots to Turkey. Only the Netherlands, Germany and the US have the latest version of the defence system.
Foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans described the cabinet’s decision to approve deployment as ‘very important’. ‘It is extremely volatile in Syria,’ the minister said.
© DutchNews.nl
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Fantastic! Roll on the 21st.
By woods | 7 December 2012 4:38 PMThis is a misleading report. The deployment is done under the NATO joint defence agreement. It is being reported as if Dutch chose to deploy out of their concern for Turkey's safety, which is not even mentioned. In return for Turkey's contribution to the safety of the alliance, the Netherlands and Germany is doing their bit to help. That is the news. Nothing more.
By Bertan Atalay | 7 December 2012 10:18 PMWith all the trouble the ruler in Syria is in, what would entice him to attack Turkey?
By Hank Kemp | 8 December 2012 6:29 AMBig mistake. Why allow historic German nostalgia toward Turkey, allow NATO to be put in the position of enabling a revival of the Caliphate and a rise to power of Al Qaeda in Syria.
By Kevin Bjornson | 8 December 2012 9:58 AMExtremely sad.
By ria | 8 December 2012 11:49 AM@Woods that was cancelled, didn't you hear.
By radio junkie | 8 December 2012 12:49 PM@ Hank Kemp the guy's a dangerous megalomaniac, he's a nutcase, that's what would make him do it
By radio junkie | 8 December 2012 12:52 PM@Hank
By Panos | 8 December 2012 1:10 PMObviously, Syria is the excuse, Iran is the real target...
With the Patriot Missiles from Netherlands and Germany we can send message to Syria that Turkey is the strong country and it can defend it self.
By Deniz Bilmen | 8 December 2012 1:45 PMHank, Syria has already been firing over the border with Turkey, targeting the Syrian refugees (or rebels, as the gov't chooses to call them) fleeing across the border to reach safety.
By osita | 8 December 2012 2:02 PMThese missiles will be deployed to kill even more of our own species off, good move, keep up the good work, there is no other solution, bravo!! :P
(Do not disappoint your politicians, they always know what's best.)
By The brass monkey visitor | 8 December 2012 9:15 PMThe USA had to bribe Turkey to allow a NATO radar station on their soil.
Why not charge Turkey for the deployment so Dutch , German and USA citizens do not have to foot the bill ?
By Lee from Florida | 8 December 2012 10:57 PMSo the Dutch gov first gaved to Syria 10 million euro as beneficence , and than sent two Patriot air defence system to defend Turkey from Syria !!
By plasmo | 9 December 2012 4:40 AMWe are really living in a sick society !!!
Patriot missiles cannont shoot down errant shells or short range rockets.
By Mark Holden | 9 December 2012 9:18 AMTurkey just wants the system and is using this border threat as leverage to get them.
I didn't see any reports of who pays for the system; but I assume that Turkey buys it, along with plump training and service contracts.
Why and how is the powerful Turkey under threat from Syria a country 1/3 in population and 1/10 in armed forces (when compared to turkey) lingering from civil war? P.S. (just a hint) I wonder what the exact location of missles would be and how this will affect Kurds in Iraq and the operations held there.
By kos | 9 December 2012 11:14 AM