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Patriot Missiles Are 'Powerless' for Defending Turkey

© REUTERS / Murad SezerSoldiers of the German armed forces Bundeswehr stand next to the Patriot system before the arrival of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Turkish military base in Kahramanmaras in this February 24, 2013
Soldiers of the German armed forces Bundeswehr stand next to the Patriot system before the arrival of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Turkish military base in Kahramanmaras in this February 24, 2013 - Sputnik International
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Retired Turkish Lieutenant General Erdogan Karakus told Sputnik Turkey that Patriot missile systems proved powerless for defending Turkey and the US placing Aegis systems is likely to do the same.

Patriot missiles placed in Turkey turned out to be "powerless" to defend the country, retired Turkish Air Force Lieutenant General Erdogan Karakus told Sputnik Turkey.

US Navy Commodore Pamela Rawe said on Wednesday that another Aegis anti-missile system-eqipped ship was sent to the Mediterranean for the "defense of our NATO allies, which includes Turkey." Karakus charges that placing the Aegis systems near the Turkish coast would only enhance the US air defense system but not boost Turkish security.

"We all remember the incident when a Syrian shell fell on Turkish territory. It became clear then that 'Patriots' are completely powerless in face of a similar danger," Karakus told Sputnik Turkey.

US soldiers work on a Patriot missile system - Sputnik International
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According to Karakus, while the systems may be beneficial to Israeli and US security, placing them in or near Turkey does not enhance the country's security.

Karakus added that it later turned out that the Patriot systems were guarding a very limited territory where US military equipment was located and not Turkey as a whole.

 

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