Israel plans for war with Iran and Syria

[spindrifter]

The Sunday Times September 03, 2006

Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv, and Sarah Baxter, New York


THREATENED by a potentially nuclear-armed Tehran, Israel is preparing for a possible war with both Iran and Syria, according to Israeli political and military sources.

The conflict with Hezbollah has led to a strategic rethink in Israel. A key conclusion is that too much attention has been paid to Palestinian militants in Gaza and the West Bank instead of the two biggest state sponsors of terrorism in the region, who pose a far greater danger to Israel’s existence, defence insiders say.

<snip>

A new infantry brigade has been formed named Kfir (lion cub), which will be the largest in the Israeli army. “It is a partial solution for the challenge of the Syrian commando brigades, which are considered better than Hezbollah’s,” a military source said.

<snip>

In Washington, the military hawks believe that an airstrike against Iranian nuclear bunkers remains a more straightforward, if risky, operation than chasing Hezbollah fighters and their mobile rocket launchers in Lebanon.

<more>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2340486,00.html

[leveymg]

1. A war with Iran is "more straightforward" than chasing Hezbollah?

These must be the same "military hawks" who predicted that there wouldn't be any casualties and American troops would be greeted with rose peddles in Baghdad.

Oh, that's right. They are the same deluded neocons.

[acmavm]

2. So is Israel under the mistaken impression AGAIN that there won't be

any retaliation? Do they think this one's going to be a cakewalk? Do they not think that maybe they're biting off way more than the can chew?

Because the US isn't going to be any help. They don't have the manpower. They can provide bombs but that would be one of the biggest mistakes in a long line of mistakes for the insane neocon crowd.

Both Israel and the US are being run by insane maniacs who think everyone is as freaking cowardly as they are (the draft dodging maniacs in the bush administration) or totally afraid to fight back (the IDF).

Bad move, really bad move if they try it. All stops will be pulled out. And I see no reason for China or Russia not to provide so aid to Iran and probably Syria. The Russians are in the oil business with Iran, and they have always had good relations with Syria. (The kid I'm babysitting tonight is a Moslem child who's Dad is a big shot surgeon here in Omaha (his family is back in Syria) and his Mom is a BEAUTIFUL Russian/Syrian spoiled rich woman. But she's very very sweet.) A lot of Russians married Syrian women. And the friendly relations go back many many years between the two peoples.

[truth2power]

5. Your statement,..

"Both Israel and the US are being run by insane maniacs.." sums it up.

And they want Hezbollah to disarm? :rofl:

[cal04]

3. Perle: If they had acted against Syria the war would have ended quickly

In Washington, the military hawks believe that an airstrike against Iranian nuclear bunkers remains a more straightforward, if risky, operation than chasing Hezbollah fighters and their mobile rocket launchers in Lebanon.

“Fixed targets are hopelessly vulnerable to precision bombing, and with stealth bombers even a robust air defence system doesn’t make much difference,” said Richard Perle, a leading neoconservative.

(snip)
While the American State Department favours engaging with President Bashar Assad of Syria in the hope of detaching him from the Iranian alliance, hawks believe Israel missed a golden opportunity to strike at Syria during the Hezbollah conflict.

(snip)
“If they had acted against Syria during this last kerfuffle, the war might have ended more quickly and better,” Perle added. “Syrian military installations are sitting ducks and the Syrian air force could have been destroyed on the ground in a couple of days.” Assad set off alarm bells in Israel when he said during the war in Lebanon: “If we do not obtain the occupied Golan Heights by peaceful means, the resistance option is there.”

[Lindacooks]

6. "Kerfluffle"???

Vampire Perle thinks that the death of more than a thousand people, mostly women and children, is a 'kerfluffle'??

Tell you what, Perle - why don't you kerfluffle your ass over there and fight the damn war yourself if you think you know so much?

Sheesh.

[bemildred]

7. Perle's record of prognostication is not impressive.

Syria has missiles too, and fancy new Russian SAMS. Any war with Syria will make Lebanon look cheap.

[bemildred]

8. Here:

---

Missiles and WMD
Of particular interest is Syria's undoubted strength in missiles and in chemical warfare. This ranges from long-range Scuds to a coast-defense brigade deployed to protect Latakia and other naval bases with four battalions of Russian and Iranian anti-ship missiles, such as the SSC-1B Sepal and C802 systems. The latter recently proved its effectiveness by damaging an Israel warship off the coast of Lebanon.

However, the real Syrian military threat to Israel is provided by the large number of such weapons now available to the missile command based in Aleppo. It has been suggested by some observers that as many as 1,000 Russian or Iranian modified Scuds are deployed on some 60-70 transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), in numerous well-hidden launch silos or housed within a reported 15 massive tunnel complexes constructed in recent years with the help of Iranian and North Korean engineers.

The majority of these missiles are improved Scud-D or Iranian/North Korean versions with ranges of some 700 kilometers with a 500-kilogram warhead. To this can be added some 210 highly mobile Russian SS-21 Scarab short-range missiles. Syria may also have acquired Chinese technology in the form of the M-9 and M-11 missile systems. Syria has two large underground improved Scud-missile production facilities near Aleppo and Hamah built with Iranian, North Korean and Chinese assistance.

It is believed by some intelligence sources that between 150 and 200 of the longest-range missiles are equipped with CBW warheads. There is considerable evidence that Sarin nerve agents and HD (mustard gas) are produced at facilities just north of Damascus and near Hamah, while the deadly VX nerve agent is produced at a petrochemical complex just south of Homs. Anthrax has reportedly been produced by the Damascus-based Scientific Research Council.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG28Ak02.html

[leveymg]

12. Without cost? 500 Syrian missiles are targeted at Israel's nuclear

reactors and weapons manufacturing installations. There's no way that even the advanced Arrow ABM would stop them from rendering several sites, and the surrounding areas, a nuclear wasteland.

An Israeli air attack on Syria wouldn't come without a very high cost, indeed.

Same scenario applies in the case of an attack on Iran.

Very lose-lose, in either case.

[bemildred]

13. Lose lose is exactly right.

That's what deterrence is all about.

[Tom Joad]

11. Had to look kerfuffle up... it is primarily British. meaning "fuss"

I suppose it seems akin to two car drivers arguing over a parking space. Except for the hundreds of dead kids... but that don't seem to matter to him.

[Redstone]

4. Well, then kind of HAVE to plan for that, don't they?

Since both of those countries have publicly-stated policies of "wiping Israel off the map."

They'd be pretty fucking stupid not to take those statements at face value.

Redstone

[Tom Joad]

9. Like here, the people in charge think there is not a problem on earth

that can't be solved with the dropping of bombs.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Are the neocons running Israel as well?

Endless war is the first and only solution that neocons have to offer. We are bogged down in Iraq, and we are losing Afghanistan as well. The people responsible for this debacle are now planning wars against Iran and Syria, wars that will also end in defeat for America and for further radicalization of the region.

I can't imagine Israel being as stupid as the US!

[geek tragedy]

14. Syrian commando brigades better than Hezbollah?

Not buying that one for a second. No sir.

Of course Israel plans for military conflict with Syria. Hell, the United States has plans for an invasion of Canada.