Erdogan warns Israel: Turkey can send warships to east Mediterranean at any time

[bemildred]

I keep thinking "All options are on the table!"

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Israel could not do whatever it wanted in the eastern Mediterranean and that Turkish warships could be there at any moment.

Erdogan's comments, made during a visit to Tunisia as part of a tour of Arab countries, were the latest in a war of words between the two regional powers, whose relations have deteriorated since Israel killed nine Turks aboard an aid ship headed for Gaza last year.

"Israel cannot do whatever it wants in the eastern Mediterranean. They will see what our decisions will be on this subject. Our navy attack ships can be there at any moment," Erdogan told a news conference shortly after arriving in Tunis.

Turkey downgraded diplomatic ties with Israel and halted defense-related trade after the Jewish state confirmed last week it would not apologise for the raid on the Mavi Marmara ship which had attempted to break Israel's blockade on Gaza.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/erdogan-warns-israel-turkey-can-send-warships-to-east-mediterranean-at-any-time-1.384657

[holdencaufield]

1. "Our navy attack ships can be there at any moment"

Seriously -- if Erdogan is going to try to take on Ahmadinejad in an Israel-threatening contest. He's going to have to up his game. TIP: Don't say "Israel", say "Zionist Entity"... it sounds much more petulant.

[bemildred]

2. Well, it's a week on, and he is still saying it, so I thought it deserved its own thread. nt

[holdencaufield]

6. Who's Kidding Whom?

Turkish pols don't give a fetid dingo's kidney about the Palestinians. Erdogan is vying with Ahmadinejad for control of "Arab Spring".

[bemildred]

10. That's it, stay on message, good job. nt

[tularetom]

3. Israel - the little kid who starts fights with all the other neighborhood kids

Knowing his big brother will come and kick their ass if they fight back.

[JoDog]

5. Yeah, how dare

Israel pick all those fights by insisting to be allowed to exist and have access to the land and rights won by it in defensive wars or granted to it by the UN. Why won't it just die politely already (sarcasm).

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. While it would not be as cheap and easy as prior fights, Israel could roll back Turkey's navy

The real issue is natural gas fields and Cyprus. One of the other illegal acts Turkey wishes the world would ignore

[JoDog]

4. And Israel

has activated its mutual defense pact with Greece, which will allow it to use Greek airstrips to position planes to the rear of any Turkish battle group. It appears Greece is concerned about Turkey making possible observation flights over the island of Kastelorizo and several Greek oil platforms in the Med.

http://debka.com/article/21301/

[holdencaufield]

7. And that's Jenga! NT

[Jefferson23]

8. I/P forum rules:

Posting from Whatreallyhappened.com, Chronwatch.com or Debka.com is specifically not allowed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x21970

Just an FYI.

[Harmony Blue]

11. Trying to read and look for reports from Greece

but there is no evidence that is the case currently. I will let you all know if I find anything.