Despite Demands, Syria No-Fly Zone A No-Go For US

[Purveyor]

For Obama, enforcing no-fly zone in Syria would mean war or co-operation with Assad government

By BRADLEY KLAPPER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration's promise to limit U.S. military engagement against Islamic State militants makes it difficult to accept Turkey's terms for joining the fight in neighboring Syria.

Turkey and other American allies want the U.S. to create a no-fly zone inside Syrian territory. Yet doing that would mean embracing one of two options President Barack Obama long has resisted: cooperating with Syrian President Bashar Assad's government or taking out its air defenses, an action tantamount to war.

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Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has shown little enthusiasm, saying American leaders are open to discussing a safe zone, but creating one isn't "actively being considered."

For the U.S. military, there are red flags about establishing an area in Syria safe from attacks by the Islamic State group and Syria's air force.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has estimated it would require hundreds of U.S. aircraft and cost as much as $1 billion a month to maintain, with no assurance of a change in battlefield momentum toward ending the Syrian civil war.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITED_STATES_NO_FLY_ZONE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-10-11-19-58-59

Thank you Mr. President!

[KoKo]

1. Definitely....