|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.timesofisrael.com/perry-tales-in-foreign-policy/
Perry-Tales in Foreign Policy
(Times of Israel) Ehud Yaari - On March 28, Mark Perry made the unreasonable claim in Foreign Policy that Israel intends to use airbases in Azerbaijan in the event that it'll move to attack Iran's nuclear installations. The story simply does not make any sense. No one seems to have raised the real questions before rushing to publish or quote the Perry-tale: How would the Israeli Air Force reach those airbases in Azerbaijan? Take a look at the map, Mr. Perry. Are the Israelis going to get a permit from Mr. Erdogan to fly over Turkey on their way to hit Iran? Or, alternatively, does Perry want us to believe that the Israelis will choose to bypass Turkey via the longer route over Greece and Bulgaria, thus becoming fully exposed to Russian radar in the Black Sea? There is no other way for the Israelis to get to Azerbaijan. Another important issue emerges: How can Azerbaijan possibly afford to cooperate in an attack on Iran when it depends on Iran entirely for maintaining control over the Nakhichevan region of the country? Besides, Iranian missiles can quite easily knock out those airbases as well as the huge Azeri BP oil terminal near Baku, which is the lifeline of the country's economy. (Times of Israel)