There are many US installations and bases across the world. Some are permanent and some are temporary depending on current crisis in the world. One thing is for sure: they are all important to US military strategy around the world. At the current time perhaps no military installation is more important to us than Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. But recent events in Turkey should mandate that we examine the emphasis we put on Incirlik Air base a little more closely.
Peace at Home Council
On July 15th of this year, Turkish Military members and other elements of a group known as the ‘Peace at Home Council’ attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government. The coup failed but there was evidence that at least one rebel refueling aircraft took off from the Turkish side of the air base. As a result of the coup, all the power was cut off to the base for a whole week. The fact that it took so long to get the power back on at a strategic facility that we are depending on so much at the current time raises some serious questions.
Incirlik’s Importance
Why is Incirlik so important to us? For one, Turkey is a country that controls a narrow entrance to the Black Sea, which is the only sea lane available for Russian Navy Ships to exit the Black Sea. By having the ability to project massive air power in that region, it helps us be able to contain that threat in the event of hostilities. Incirlik airbase is also only 100 miles from Syria’s northern border and ISIS’s proclaimed Syrian headquarters in Raqqa. Since Turkey started allowing us to use the base to launch attacks against ISIS in Syria, the rate and effectiveness of those attacks have increased dramatically.
The benefits of having Incirlik to operate of in the region are unquestionable, but the instability of the country that was apparent after the failed coup attempt brings up some serious questions; the foremost of which is that Incirlik is known to house America’s only nuclear weapon storage facility on foreign soil. That is not exactly the type of thing we want in a country with stability problems, and at a base that is only hundreds of miles from one of ISIS’s strongholds.
Nuclear Weapons
It is estimated that there are some 60 nuclear warheads stored at the base. They are nuclear weapons that are known as an upgraded version of B61 bombs. They are a sophisticated weapon that is designed to carry a variable payload and be delivered by high speed aircraft. They even have the capability to destroy facilities that are located over 100 feet below ground. Just imagine what one of these could do in the hands of a terrorist group like ISIS.
It’s time for the US to take a serious look at other options in the area and get those nukes to a more stable place where they can be better protected.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of US Patriot Tactical.
