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WTF, over?
Incirlik Air Base is still without power
WASHINGTON — The air base at Incirlik, Turkey, used by the U.S.-led coalition to launch airstrikes and other missions against the Islamic State group, remains without power four days after a failed coup. Officials say there has been no move yet to turn it back on.
The U.S. has been relying on back-up generators to run base facilities and continue flight operations out of Incirlik.
So far, officials say there hasn't been much impact on the flights out of Incirlik, which include airstrike, surveillance, refueling and other missions. But some missions have been shifted to other locations, and officials won't specify how many.
On Tuesday, U.S. officials said they still have no idea when or if the power will be turned back on, but they said that base operations can continue with the generator power. Over time, however, there could be more significant ramifications.
"I don't believe it's a limiting factor right now," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said when asked about the issue Monday. "I think it's safe to say over time that it could become a limiting factor."
Air conditioners, food storage and preparation, and other daily living requirements depend on power as much as the runway lighting and air operations systems do.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he was not aware if the base power issue came up in when President Barack Obama spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. Carter spoke with Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik on Tuesday, and the Pentagon said they discussed the importance of operations at Incirlik Air Base, but officials refused to say if the power issue came up.
"If there's no power at Incirlik or if we remain on generated power or generator power, that's going to be a problem going forward," Toner said. "But again, U.S. Central Command is looking at that and obviously has contingency plans in place to address that."
Incirlik Air Base is still without power
WASHINGTON — The air base at Incirlik, Turkey, used by the U.S.-led coalition to launch airstrikes and other missions against the Islamic State group, remains without power four days after a failed coup. Officials say there has been no move yet to turn it back on.
The U.S. has been relying on back-up generators to run base facilities and continue flight operations out of Incirlik.
So far, officials say there hasn't been much impact on the flights out of Incirlik, which include airstrike, surveillance, refueling and other missions. But some missions have been shifted to other locations, and officials won't specify how many.
On Tuesday, U.S. officials said they still have no idea when or if the power will be turned back on, but they said that base operations can continue with the generator power. Over time, however, there could be more significant ramifications.
"I don't believe it's a limiting factor right now," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said when asked about the issue Monday. "I think it's safe to say over time that it could become a limiting factor."
Air conditioners, food storage and preparation, and other daily living requirements depend on power as much as the runway lighting and air operations systems do.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he was not aware if the base power issue came up in when President Barack Obama spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. Carter spoke with Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik on Tuesday, and the Pentagon said they discussed the importance of operations at Incirlik Air Base, but officials refused to say if the power issue came up.
"If there's no power at Incirlik or if we remain on generated power or generator power, that's going to be a problem going forward," Toner said. "But again, U.S. Central Command is looking at that and obviously has contingency plans in place to address that."
