US rules out unilateral military action in Syria

[happyslug]

16. No US Carriers in the Med, nearest secure US Air Base is 2400 KM away, whats the problem?

The F-15 has a combat range of about 2400 KM, thus could fly to Syria from Sicily and back, but unless refueled in flight, it would be to Syria, drop weapons and then right back home. Thus in flight refueling is a must.

Now Britain does have air bases in Cyprus, which is 1/3 of the way to Syria. i.e a lot closer, but Cyprus gets its oil (refined) from Greece, and Greece and Turkey gets their oil from Iran. Technically Legally Cyprus can NOT veto what Britain does from those Bases, but it has 54 105 mm howitzers, which is enough to veto anything being done on those bases (Britain can reject that veto, but that requires air operations over Cyprus, something that would reduce Air Operations over Syria.

Turkish Forces on Cyprus also has the ability to hit those bases, but requires more the 105 mm Howitzers.

Remember Greece and Turkey gets their oil from IRAN, Cyprus from Greece. Even if the Howitzers are taken out, just having them pointing at the Air Bases would be enough to keep Iran sending Greece and Turkey oil.

Yes, Greece and Turkey do not like each other (and Turkey hates Assad), but both need Iranian oil and will work together to keep that oil flowing to BOTH (and if that means supporting Assad, they will).