if an arab nation attacked israel, we'd have to intervene wouldn't we?

[mopaul]

cause i see that as a plausible way to kick off the next war, probably on iran or syria. those two nations probably have no intention to attack israel, but that takes me to part two of my scenario.

there have been no other giant terror attacks on u.s. soil since 9-11, and another one would spell big big trouble for the president. but, if there were a 'fake' attack on israel, instantly blamed on an arab nation of your choice, it'd be a perfectly legitimate (?) excuse for invading said nation.

and we'd simply HAVE to run to the aid of the only 'democracy' in the middle east wouldn't we?

just trying to second guess the crazies, that's all.

[AndyTiedye]

1. Israel Can Take Care of Itself

They have demonstrated that many times in the past.

[Catma]

2. Israel has been attacked

before and America did nothing but supply Israel with the best weapons we could and watch Israel beat the hell out of them. The military is stretched far too thin as it is so personally I don't see this happening without instituting a draft. Then again I don't put anything past this administration

[ashiebr]

9. Well, nothing except give them.............

all the intelligence they needed, satellite photos of where troop positions were etc.

[smoogatz]

3. Well, we didn't intervene in '67, or '73

Not directly, anyway. Israel is still so heavily armed compared to its neighbors that it could thoroughly kick all of their asses simultaneously, if it had to, without the use of unconventional weapons. But--and this is important--Iran (unlike Iraq) provides both financing and safe haven to terrorist organizations, particularly Hezbollah. So an attack by Hezbollah on Israel, the US, the UK or within Iraq (the other "democracy" in the middle east), would probably trigger retaliatory strikes against Iran.

[Hand]

4. Just a minor correction...

Iran's not an Arab nation; Iranians are ethnic Persians, with no love lost between them and the Arabs.

I find it hard to imagine a plausible scenario under which any Arab nation (or Iran) would attack Israel, or could credibly be made to look like doing so. The Israel/Egypt and Israel/Jordan peace treaties pretty well put the kibosh to the big Arab/Israeli war ritual, thank heavens.

That said, the closeness between the most extreme nationalist Israeli factions and the Rapture-ready lunatics in the US is a serious danger to peace in the region. I saw a program on the CBC recently about the worst of the West Bank settlers organizing attempted bombing attacks against Arab schools and other institutions within Israel itself. Fortunately, the Israeli internal security forces are well aware of the threat these loonies pose and have been going after them energetically.

This is by way of suggesting that for the most part Israelis are NOT eager for another war in the region, whether fought by them or by the US; they've bled a lot over the years, and the 20-year occupation mess in southern Lebanon was an object lesson. I doubt also that any of their potential adversaries are going to let themselves in for more of the same, either.

At least I hope not...

[mopaul]

5. i hope not too

but the assholes in the white house are looking for something to bring it all together.

[smoogatz]

6. Good catch. The Dome of the Rock

is, for a lot of fundies, the only thing standing between them and the Rapture. There's lots of talk in extreme whacko fundie land about blowing it up, so the temple of Jerusalem can be rebuilt and Jesus can return and wipe out all the sinner in horrible ways. Including the Jews, of course.

[sabra]

7. good post, and I agree with you n/t

[Wright Patman]

8. I would have said

a military coup within the U.S. would have been more likely if the neocons staged a fake terror attack in Israel (and it would have to be huge since everyone is so used to them there already) and then beat the drums for U.S. intervention, especially since so many millions of Americans and no doubt many in the military know there is something very fishy about 9-11 by now.

This is on top of the Larry Franklin/AIPAC spying scandal and before that the Pollard affair. Israel has burned a lot of bridges with its "only strategic ally" in the world. However, chief neocons Rummy and Cheney have purged a lot of the patriots from the military and so I am not sure a coup is even possible.

Instead, I believe our military are now in the position of the "good Germans" who are "just following orders" and, yes, it is a very ironic role reversal which has occurred since World War II.

[Egalitariat]

10. No, Israel would destroy the Arab country which attacked it****

nm

[leveymg]

11. More likely Israel will preemptive attack Iran. Same overall effect:

WWIV. Iran will likely emerge the winner of a Mideast war that doesn't go nuclear. They've already won the Second U.S.-Iraq war by default.