On October 16 Hurriyet published an article by Mehmet Ali Birand 'Turkey cannot form a buffer zone without the US.'
"When compared to Syria, Turkey it is both a bigger and a stronger country. Especially in a conventional war, no comparison is possible between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian Army. However, let’s leave aside comparisons, which could be misleading, and let’s talk about a dangerous probability that would very much disappoint us all," the article reads.
"Such a scenario is being discussed among the public and among experts: “The number or refugees coming from Syria is increasing. The bombings near the border are not stopping. To avoid a major war, the TSK wants to form a buffer zone along the border and solve these problems.” This is being seriously discussed and we believe that such a scenario could easily come to pass."
"Yes, it is true that the TSK could enter Syrian territory in such a way that a buffer zone would be formed. It could cross the border with tanks, artillery and weapons and set up a buffer zone. It could be done, to control this land, all along the 900 kilometers of the border, even though it would be very difficult, but it also would not be adequate," the author says.
"Turkey would need to take control of the zone thus formed from the air also. In other words, if we do not want the Syrian Air Force to fly over the buffer zone and strike Turkish forces on the ground, then the Turkish Air Force would have to patrol constantly. And the problem stems from that."
"Syria has a very strong air-defense system. It has a radar net made in Russia, the one it had purchased to use against Israel. Connected to that system, it has 400 Scud C or D short- and medium-range missiles, as well as its own missile development program supported by Iran and Iraq."
"I do not want to go into detail here. What I’m saying is that Turkey’s capabilities would not be adequate to protect the buffer zone from the air or to ban Syrian planes. In short, Turkey cannot manage this alone. It is only the United States that could deactivate Syria’s radar and missile system," the author concludes.
