Turkey joins NATO in Libya military action

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TURKEY’S parliament overnight approved sending a naval force off Libya as the Islamist-rooted government moved reluctantly to join military action in the conflict-torn country despite anger at Western-led air raids.

Following harsh criticism of the strikes, the government asked parliament to approve the dispatch of military forces, pledging a submarine, four frigates and an auxiliary ship to a NATO patrol mission to enforce a UN arms embargo against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

It obtained a one-year authorisation for deployment as part of “multi-dimensional contributions to international efforts aimed at restoring stability and security in Libya”, according to the motion parliament approved.

The vote was held in a closed session by a show of hands, with some opposition deputies also lending support to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), parliamentary sources said.

Analysts however said the government, influenced by Islamist sympathies, fell out of pace with NATO allies while resisting military action against Libya even though its participation was “inevitable”.

“Turkey was confused and was late… Joining the game was inevitable. It could not have stood against its NATO allies,” foreign policy commentator Semih Idiz said.

Turkey, NATO’s sole predominantly Muslim member and a key regional player, has slammed the air strikes, led by France, Britain and the United States, ruling out any combat mission and vowing to “never point a gun at the Libyan people”.

But with the approval of the naval mission “Turkey will have effectively joined the military operation: if the soldiers are fired on, they will respond”, Mr Idiz said.

Turkey’s navy chief said two Turkish vessels were already at sea in the Mediterranean and the remaining four others had left their ports on Wednesday, heading to the zone of operation.

herald sun

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Comments

10 responses to “Turkey joins NATO in Libya military action”

  1. josephphdman Avatar
    josephphdman

    when iran wipe israel out of the map guess what happen next ?
    you are next turkey is a sunni state they are going to wipe you out next mr turkey so you better cooperate with the nato and the united nation if you want any protection or you will be speaking persian in a few years

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    when iran wipe israel out of the map guess what happen next ?
    you are next turkey is a sunni state they are going to wipe you out next mr turkey so you better cooperate with the nato and the united nation if you want any protection or you will be speaking persian in a few years

  3. Lebman12 Avatar

    Turkey is not a country to be trusted , they play politics for American $$, now they join Nato against Libya for what ? if not to cry for money, they are opportunitists to play political games,
    That’s why history calls Turkey “the prostitutes of politics”

    1. Sussy09 Avatar

      I agree, i couldn’t have said it better!! that, and i believe also their concern about being accepted/or not to the European Union, thinking they can score some points here..

  4. Lebman12 Avatar

    Turkey is not a country to be trusted , they play politics for American $$, now they join Nato against Libya for what ? if not to cry for money, they are opportunitists to play political games,
    That’s why history calls Turkey “the prostitutes of politics”

  5.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Turkey is not a country to be trusted , they play politics for American $$, now they join Nato against Libya for what ? if not to cry for money, they are opportunitists to play political games,
    That’s why history calls Turkey “the prostitutes of politics”

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      I agree, i couldn’t have said it better!! that, and i believe also their concern about being accepted/or not to the European Union, thinking they can score some points here..

  6.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Turkey is not a country to be trusted , they play politics for American $$, now they join Nato against Libya for what ? if not to cry for money, they are opportunitists to play political games,
    That’s why history calls Turkey “the prostitutes of politics”

  7. we should really distrust all couontries.

    all countries have made gains on our backs as lebanese.

    time to own up and show responsibility as lebanese for once.

  8.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    we should really distrust all couontries.

    all countries have made gains on our backs as lebanese.

    time to own up and show responsibility as lebanese for once.

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