Turkey to make ‘imminent’ request for NATO to deploy Patriot missiles near Syria border

"NATO is the strongest and only institution in Turkey’s decades-long integration efforts to the West"

From Reuters:  Turkey is to make an "imminent" official request to NATO to station Patriot missiles along its 910 km (560 mile) border with Syria, a senior Turkish foreign ministry official said on Wednesday.

From Suzan Fraser, AP:  A Turkish official says Turkey and its allies, including the United States, have discussed the possibility of using Patriot missiles to protect a zone inside war-torn Syria.

The Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday that the missiles are one of a number of scenarios being considered as a way to stop regime attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians.

From David Stringer and Dale Gavlak, APThe foreign ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of ministry prohibitions on contacts with the news media, said planning for the safe zone had been put on hold pending the U.S. election. He said any missile deployment might happen under a "NATO umbrella," though NATO has insisted it will not intervene without a clear United Nations.  (photo: AP)

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