In Case You Had Any Question
U.S. and Israel are working together against Iran, Syria. Great news, confirmed by the Washington Post:
Israel’s decision to attack Syria on Sept. 6, bombing a suspected nuclear site set up in apparent collaboration with North Korea, came after Israel shared intelligence with President Bush this summer indicating that North Korean nuclear personnel were in Syria, U.S. government sources said.
The Bush administration has not commented on the Israeli raid or the underlying intelligence. Although the administration was deeply troubled by Israel’s assertion that North Korea was assisting the nuclear ambitions of a country closely linked with Iran, sources said, the White House opted against an immediate response because of concerns it would undermine long-running negotiations aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.
None of this is any great surprise, including the actual attack on Syria and Syria’s failure to respond. Syria has a long history of getting its ass kicked by Israel, and there is a big piece of erstwhile Syrian territory that is now called Israel. When I went to the Golan, the big debate everyone was worked up about was whether they would give it back. That’s been off the table for a long time.
A lot of people have thought Israel will do America’s dirty work in Iran. I have not thought so. Too explosive a prospect. Iran would attempt to retaliate, attempt to use Israel’s involvement to turn the Arabs, Israel has enough on its hands. This little test run, coming on top of the impotent response to Lebanon and the turning of the Arabs in the wake of Gaza, suggests otherwise. I haven’t seen much indication the Arabs give a damn about Israel bombing Syrian nuclear facilities, and given attitudes toward Iran, I doubt the much-ballyhooed “Arab street” or the Arab palaces for that matter would offer up much more than nominal squawking, if that.
There remains the problem of Israel and the United States acting in concert in an attack on a Muslim nation, something that could haunt the United States for a long time. But it is possible the new realities of the Middle East could turn that into a non-issue. The Arabs are tired of the Palestinians. They are afraid of the Iranians. They have figured out Israel isn’t going anywhere and makes a good business partner. Progress toward Middle East peace is being made in entirely unexpected ways. Arab terrorism … on top of the decades of Arab failure … have driven the Arabs toward an accomodation with Israel.
Israel can’t attack Iran alone. It very well could start that way. But the total elimination of Iran’s ability to project military and terrorist power would require heavy American involvement … all those cruise missiles, long-range bombers and carrier-based aircraft. Maybe what we see is an Israel strike on Iranian nuke facilities, Iranian threats of retaliation and the destruction of Israel, and the United States stepping in to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Stay tuned.
Welcome Pajamas, etal. Come on in, put some clothes on! Try some of this on for size: Bush = New Saddam! I want my HTV! Blah Blah Blah Mohammed Jihad!
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:02 am Comments (6) on Friday, September 21, 2007
6 Responses to “In Case You Had Any Question”
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September 21st, 2007 at 11:16 am
There remains the problem of Israel and the United States acting in concert in an attack on a Muslim nation, something that could haunt the United States for a long time.
On the other hand, Muslim nations have been accusing us of that for a long time anyway. Why would the reality be any different?
September 21st, 2007 at 12:20 pm
When I went to the Golan, the big debate everyone was worked up about was whether they would give it back. That’s been off the table for a long time.
IIRC, the Golan Heights are of strategic value to Israel. Not only is it the high ground, it’s a major watershed (maybe even the primary) for Israel, supplying much of their water. It ain’t ever going back to Syria.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:57 pm
This is great news.
Here’s a little background analysis from Lebanese blog Beirut by the Bay–
“Syria appeared as it really is. This is its actual regional weight. It appeared impotent, without even a diplomatic response. Its complete isolation (both European and Arab) was on full display (not even the Arab League came to its aid), and its diplomats sounded and looked even more pathetic than they usually do.”
One theory is Syria (and Iran) answered this by assassinating the MP Antoine Ghanem in Beirut.
It served two purposes, further stifle and smother democracy in Lebanon prior to next weeks election and show the US every action has a reaction. The chessboard is in constant flux. Except, as depicted by one great Lebanese editorial cartoon, Syria and Iran play chess with a hammer.
September 21st, 2007 at 4:35 pm
What? There was a doubt? Hint: Been 26 years since JC was president.
(smile)
Seriously, I always admired the way Reagan lied through his teeth in July 1981 when he admonished Israel for taking Hussein’s nuke program out. He should have had Claude Raines role in “Casablanca”
September 21st, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Now is the time to push for taking out Iran as a threat. It must come.
I do wonder what will happen when we neutralize Iran as a force in the Middle East. The Saudis will like it, anyway.
September 21st, 2007 at 9:05 pm
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