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Europe
Israel asks airbase in Cyprus in exchange for air defense
2011-09-29
Prompted by the comment from Moose yesterday. Nice catch.
According to the news website OnlyCy, the Israeli government reportedly asked the Cypriot permission to use the "Andreas Papandreou" airbase in Paphos in exchange for ensuring the air defense of the Republic and changing the military balance in the region.

This request comes after the recent incidents of harassment of a Cyprus Airways flight and the continuous violations of Cypriot airspace south and east of Paphos.

In the "A. Papandreou" AB, the Cypriot government has built the necessary infrastructure for hosting and supporting fighter aircraft, while nearly a decade ago F-16 fighter jets of the HAF had stationed for a short time at the AB under the joint defence area doctrine between Greece and Cyprus.

The Israeli proposal is a significant upgrade of military relations between Israel and Cyprus, and certainly any decision taken by the Cypriot government will change the military balance in Cyprus.

This move also shows the determination of Israel to defend the energy resources of the area and its concern for the Turkish aggression. On the other hand such a move, if it were acceptable, would undoubtedly upgrade the crisis in the area because of the gas drilling.

However, in general, the Israeli proposal is a qualitative improvement in relations between the two countries and should be examined with caution.
Posted by:Steve White

#19  I would suspect the eeeeevil Juice already know how to adjust the IFF to current events, Turkish targets allies
Posted by: Frank G   2011-09-29 22:38  

#18  It is too bad that the airbase in Cyprus is not set up for F-15s, that would be the better basing choice for air superiority.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2011-09-29 20:15  

#17  I agree with the WWII comparison: we are facing an increasing aggressive Asian authoritarian power, that is massively dependent on imports for everything for fuel to food, who keeps biting off chunks of its neighbors, sells us all sort of cheap crap goods and buys all sorts of militarily-useful technology and products from us, and is taking advantage of a world-wide economic problem to expand in the Pacific in the face of a weak-kneed socialist American President who is talking about cutting the US military. Almost a duplicate of the positions of Imperial Japan and the US in the 1930s.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2011-09-29 20:13  

#16  Instead of WWI I see parallels to WW2 in that the world is in a global slump and the Superpower of the time is looking and acting weak. That's a go flag for crazies.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2011-09-29 14:53  

#15  Knight to King 5?
Posted by: mojo   2011-09-29 12:05  

#14  Ooookay.  Pheatch Ulick1830, that second try is certainly more coherent, which should bring you comfort. Now try actually reading the articles and comments at the site, to see if your opinion of us is valid. When you do, a simple, "Sorry, I hadn't had my tea yet," will be a good start.

It is odd. Usually it's the Muslims and the Jew-haters who who burst in here like that, not the Jewish lovers of Israel. But, contra the wise old gentleman of Ecclesiastics, there are indeed new things under the sun.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-09-29 09:20  

#13  Hey Abdrool, can you say M-O-B-Y? I knew you could because you are smarter than your average inbred forehead banger, but still not smarter than your average bear.
Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165   2011-09-29 07:52  

#12  Bunch of muslim loving mother fuckers.

Israel belongs to the Jews. The rest of you can GET THE FUCK OUT OF WHAT GOD GAVE US.
Posted by: Pheatch Ulick1830   2011-09-29 07:41  

#11  Pheatch Ulick1830 = Middle Eastern Moby
Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165   2011-09-29 07:34  

#10  Congratulations, Pheatch Ulick1830. That is the most incoherent post I've read in absolutely ages!

Yes, it is rather worth keeping on display. One seldom seens such a combination of stupidity and ignorance, even during this election season.
Posted by: lotp   2011-09-29 06:37  

#9  Hopefully, if the Turks send their F-16's out play with the IDF, they will splash a few.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man (New Delhi)   2011-09-29 06:12  

#8  Congratulations, Pheatch Ulick1830. That is the most incoherent post I've read in absolutely ages! Just a thought -- I don't think anyone ever claimed Cyprus as a Jewish homeland.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-09-29 05:41  

#7  Trash on aisle 5
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-09-29 05:39  

#6  It's like the summer of 1914, but I keep wondering "Where is the Sarajevo? Who will be the Archduke?"

That caught my attention as well.

FWIIW, I think it will happen in N. Africa.

Algeria has yet to fall to a popular revolution and a free state which hopefully Libya will become with a long border with an authoritarian state isn't a stable configuration.
Posted by: phil_b   2011-09-29 05:26  

#5  Good job!

Now the Israelis can ethnically cleans all the muslims and christian scum from the region!

God didn't give that land to you motherfuckers! GET THE FUCK OUT! It ain't yours, Jesus was a Jew there is such fucking thing as a Christian!
Posted by: Pheatch Ulick1830   2011-09-29 05:09  

#4   Cyprus gets protection against Turkey.
Posted by DarthVader

Bonus points: Turkey gets an immediate three-front war, should the decide to start one.
Posted by: Besoeker   2011-09-29 04:47  

#3  big smile...
Posted by: Water Modem   2011-09-29 03:53  

#2  Actually wouldn't be a bad idea and a good move for both countries. Israel gets air defense farther out into the Med and can project power against Turkey and Egypt, and Cyprus gets protection against Turkey.
Posted by: DarthVader   2011-09-29 03:32  

#1  Mmmmmkay...assuming this publication's credibility is somewhere above the Debka league, things in that neighborhood are about to get very interesting. And not in a good way.

The Holy Blogfather posted a pertinent note from a reader yesterday. Money quote: It’s like the summer of 1914, but I keep wondering “Where is the Sarajevo? Who will be the Archduke?"
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo)   2011-09-29 01:00  

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