Approximately 50 B61 nuclear bombs inside an igloo at what might be Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. (Photo courtesy Federation of American Scientists)
Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Policy: America’s Nukes Aren’t Safe in Turkey Anymore
But is there anywhere else in Europe that would take them?
Among the candidates for most iconic image of this past weekend’s attempted coup in Turkey has to be the many videos of Turkish F-16s, hijacked by the mutineers, flying low over Istanbul and Ankara. Eventually, those planes seem to have bombed the parliament. There were rumors that they considered shooting down the plane of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
What’s clear is that mutineers managed to keep the F-16s in the air only because they were able to refuel them mid-flight using at least one tanker aircraft operated out of Incirlik Air Base. Eventually Turkish authorities closed the airspace over Incirlik and cut power to it. The next day, the security forces loyal to the government arrested the Turkish commander at the base. (The images of him being escorted away in handcuffs are in the contest to qualify as the weekend’s most iconic.)
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More News On The Debate over U.S. Nuclear Weapons In Turkey
Attempted Military Coup in Turkey Puts American Nukes at Risk -- Sputnik
Turkey coup attempt raises fears over safety of US nuclear stockpile -- The Guardian
Dependents and Possibly Nukes Staying Put in Turkey: Pentagon -- Military.com
After Turkey coup, Pentagon says nukes are safe -- Washington Examiner
The H-Bombs In Turkey -- Eric Schlosser, New Yorker
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Base in Turkey used for US-led missions still without power
By Lolita C. Baldor | AP July 19 at 4:29 PM
WASHINGTON — The air base at Incirlik, Turkey, used to launch U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and other missions against Islamic State militants remains without power four days after a failed coup.
U.S. officials say there has been no move yet to turn the power 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. Some missions have been shifted to other locations, but officials won’t specify how many.
U.S. officials say they still have no idea when or if the power will be turned back on. They say base operations can continue with generator power.
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