Jul 09 2007
Syrian Stupidity
The best way to make sure a tough Republican President is elected in 2008 is for Syria (and possibly Iran-Hezbollah) to start a war with Israel:
Well-informed sources in Washington fear a confrontation between Syria and Israel may happen this summer. The sources say that Syrian intelligence is abuzz with activity reports of an imminent Israeli attack across the Golan Heights, while others believe it is Syria that is gearing up for war.
Dennis Ross, a former senior U.S. Middle East peace negotiator, was quoted by an Israeli newspaper as saying he thinks “there is a risk of war” between Syria and Israel in the summer. Ross told YnetNews, Yedioth Ahronoth’s Internet edition, that “no one has made any decisions, but the Syrians are positioning themselves for war.”
According to the former U.S. State Department official, “Syria has rearmed Hezbollah to the teeth — there should be a price to pay for that.” Ross added that the Bush administration should aim to “squeeze the Syrian economy” by using “sticks before carrots” in dealing with Damascus.
The New York Sun, meanwhile, quotes an unidentified Baath official saying, “If Israel doesn’t vacate the strategic Golan Heights before September, Syrian guerillas will immediately launch ‘resistance operations’ against the Golan’s Jewish communities.” The official said “Damascus is preparing for Israeli retaliation following Syrian guerilla attacks and for a larger war with the Jewish state in August or September.”
The official warns that “Syria has the capability to fire ‘hundreds’ of missiles at Tel Aviv in the opening salvo of any conflict.” The official told the New York paper that Damascus has made numerous requests to Washington for the return of the Golan “either through negotiations or through war.”
Sadly, I have yet to see any sign of sane, reasoned thought coming out of Syria or Iran – so it would not be surprising to see Syria try and save al-Qaeda by starting a new front in the War on Terror by attacking Israel.
Update: More evidence of something happening in Lebanon (from our readers) here and here.
AJ
More questions of the July 15th deadline from a Lebanon Blog
I hadn’t noticed this before will have to track down a link that supports the story here I am quoting below
Sounds like someone is already crossing the line doing their groundwork for more stuff ahead.
Another post from a Lebanon blog that supports the US official position on Syria and explains something that should be read into the Congressional Record to shame Ms Pelosi.
In the end they all end up sounding like the Bush administration, vindicating its position: the Syrians know what to do (obligations under international law). When they do it, we’ll talk. Talking before those steps are taken is not only counterproductive. It also invariably ends up in embarrassing failure.
Gee, it looks like Nancy’s goodwill trip did not do much good.
Syria is now trying to pawn off a story that the assination of Pierre Gemayel should be blamed on the Fatah al-Islam who held ground in the refuge camp fighting recently.
This flies in the face of reality since they are backed by AQ and the Saudies so this is just a smoke screen before the International Tribunal.
More info to support rising retoric and tensions.
Nancy’s “goodwill” trip did quite a bit – it told the Syrians that they have can reasonably count on political paralysis in Washington, which can only embolden them to act soon.
The Iranian govm’t also has a big problem, the growing internal unrest. The classic solution to that kind of thing has always been to launch a war in order to a) deflect attention, and b) justify martial law and institute military control at home.
While I hope this doesn’t happen, everything that has happened this last year leading into this one makes it feel (from a historical perspective) like 1860, early 1914, or 1939. I can’t shake the deep feeling that something big – and I mean a lot, lot bigger than anything we’ve seen so far, like 9/11 – is headed for us – for the entire world – like a freight train bearing down.
and whatever it is, it’s too late to stop it.
When this something big happens, the nutroots will be blaming this on Bush.
If the Democrats have enough to override Bush’s veto, will this something big happens change their minds about Iraq?
Sounds like the Democrats do not want to listen to a positive report on the surge.
Syria, Lebanon and UNIFIL’s Failure…
Where are the major media outlets to cover this story. If the Israelis had gone 300 meters into Lebanon, the world would make a stink like you wouldn’t believe. Syria goes 3 miles into Lebanon and nary a peep from the Times or any other major western….
WWS,
I fear that you are correct in your feelings.
It’s going to be big, and really, really ugly.
I have had this bad feeling for several months now. I don’t know why exactly. I cannot put my finger on it. Sort of a gnawing sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Our family has begun to stockpile food and water. We never let our cars get below 3/4 tank.
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
Read more here from documents translated by MEMRI
Yes, things feel out of control in the world, I suppose because we know more about what is in the dark bowels of the evil pit. And it feels like there are so many like the soros/dem party that are useful idiots for this evil.
And, it seems that we are not hearing about many of the victories around the world.
I don’t know if a big one is inevitable or not. Am praying a lot for the opposite.
I have a single sourced report I just read that the killers of Pierre Gemayel have been captured and confessed and says they are part of Fatah al-Islam.
Will wait for confirmation and if the story checks out obviously my prior comment about them is in error.
BRG
I can understand your worries, but I think they may be a little bit overstated. However having resources for a potential disruption is not a bad thing.
I look at the whole scene of the MSM doom and gloom and sit back and notice just exactly how much of that is spin that is not really justified and try to calculate in my head how many people are buying in to it.
In my view the MSM has stolen the general theme from country music.
They are telling a tale of my gal did me wrong and my dog went bad and my whole world turned to s***.
The important thing is to evaluate just how true to the world are they or are they just putting a bag over their head and breathing real hard to put words down to cop ratings and make themselves meaningful?
How many reporters do you see anymore. My guess is they are few and far between. Almost every article you see has a spin and a message to be delivered.
It’s sad that to find the facts you have to dig them out yourself, but there is a small comfort that if you know where to go you can dig them out.
But hey I’m a net junkie and I have had the time to find them.
God help the casual user.