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"We want to give a strong message to the Syrian regime that Turkey is determined to protect its borders and people and is ready to do whatever necessary - that is the meaning of high-level readiness."Chief of General Staff General Necdet Ozel continued inspecting troops deployed on Syria's borders. "We are here, and we are standing tall," he said. "We have retaliated and if (mortar fire) continues, we'll respond more strongly."
Free Syrian Army elements are to blame. Using NATO weapons, they fired mortars on Turkish territory. Assad was wrongfully blamed.
Turkey may end up getting the fight it wants. Washington, of course, calls the shots. Obama officials control how and when. Ankara's a willing co-conspirator.
Provocative incidents heighten tensions further. On October 11, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined "Syrian Passenger Plane, Forced to Land by Turkish Authorities in Ankara Airport, Arrives in Damascus," saying:
A Syrian Air Moscow inbound flight was forced to land in Ankara. Airline director, Ghaida Abdullatif, told SANA that Turkish authorities assaulted crew members before permitting it to depart.
They refused to sign a document claiming an emergency landing. Russia Today said those refusing were beaten.
"Turkish F-16 warplanes forced the Syrian plane to land to be searched, doing so in violation of the international procedures in terms of not formerly notifying neither its pilot nor the Turkish civil airline, which almost caused an air accident due to warplanes coming close at an uncalculated distance," said Abdullatif.No illegal cargo was onboard. Nothing was found. Passengers are safe but shaken. Abdullatif said Ankara committed "an inhumane act."
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