British Troops Join US Forces on the Jordan-Syria Border

[nestopwar]

British Troops Join US Forces on the Jordan-Syria Border
By Global Research News
Global Research, October 14, 2012
 
 According to ANSA, the Italian News Agency, "several hundred British soldiers and military advisors are in Jordan to monitor the Syria situation, Western diplomatic sources said on Thursday."

One hundred US troops are already stationed on the Syria-Jordan border. They were deployed on the orders of the US president and commander in chief without seeking the approval of the US Congress.

Sources do not indicate the composition of these US and British troops, as to whether they are regular troops or in large part special forces.

The New York Times confirms the presence of 150 British troops,: The Times of London reported "on an undisclosed number of British troops.The troops have been in Jordan since participating in joint military maneuvers in the past months. They remained on concerns over Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, Jordanian military sources said, adding that French troops might also be in place. ANSA, the Italian News Agency, October 11, 2012, emphasis added)
 

[nestopwar]

US Military Buildup on Syria's Southern Border
By Prof Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research, October 14, 2012
 We are at a very dangerous crossroads.

US and British troops are now stationed in Jordan on Syria's southern border. Meanwhile, Turkish troops are being deployed on Syria's Northern border.

The official story conveyed by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at a meeting of defense ministers is that allied troops from the US and Britain are working under a "humanitarian" mandate with the Amman government to monitor alleged chemical and biological weapons sites in Syria as well as help Jordan with the influx of refugees.

A report of the Israeli Intelligence News Service Debka points to "the real reason" of allied troop deployments:

"US troops sent to the Jordan-Syria border are helping build a headquarters in Jordan to bolster its military capabilitiesin case violence spills over from Syria, suggesting deepening US military intervention in the Syrian conflict."

The deployment of allied troops on Syria's southern border are coordinated with actions taken by Turkey and its allies on Syria's Northern border.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has demanded the support of NATO against Syria under the doctrine of collective security.

"We will do what needs to be done if our border is violated again," he told reporters following a meeting in Istanbul with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle

Foreign Minister Davutoglu on Saturday pointed to the alleged violation of Turkey's border by Syria as a violation of NATO's borders. Under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, an attack on one member state of the Atlantic Alliance is considered as an attack against all NATO member states.

"In this context, we expect the support of our allies" said Foreign Minister Davutoglu, intimating that both Germany and other member states of the Atlantic Alliance should act to to defend Turkey under the doctrine of Collective Security:

 "if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence … will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area… (See full text of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, April 1949)