Israel dismisses threat of Syrian retaliation

[Herschel]

Israel dismissed a threat by Syria's ambassador to Spain on Wednesday that Syria would retaliate militarily against Israel if the Jewish state carried out more attacks on Syrian territory.


''This sort of statement is intended mainly for the Arab world, to give the impression Syria is steadfast in the fight against Israel,'' a senior Israeli security source said following the remarks to Reuters by envoy Mohsen Bilal in Madrid.

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http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters10-08-040112.asp?reg=MIDEAST

I believe Syria will mind itself. Israel feels she has a free hand in defending herself. I will leave it at that.

[Darranar]

1. Do you think Syria has a right to defend itself?

[cprise]

2. I doubt you will get an answer.

We are being propagandized at.

[Herschel]

3. Syria harbored terrorists

Israel had a moral obligation to strike them.

[Darranar]

4. You didn't answer the question...

And how do you know that Syria harbors or harbored terrorists?

They're on their guard enough from the US.

[Herschel]

6. Israeli intellegence determined this

Why do you suppose Israel struck?

[Darranar]

7. There are several possibilities...

1. In order to trigger an air war, where Israel can impress everybody with performance in a conventional war, distracting attention from the out-of-control situation in the West Bank and Gaza;

2. To give the impression that they are doing something to the people of Israel;

3. To show defiance towards the international community, saying taht whatever you do, we frankly don't care;

4. To provoke Syria into doing something that will help precipitate US strikes.

These possibilities are by no means all of them, nor are they exclusionary.

[Herschel]

8. Faint possibilities

I am inclined to believe otherwise.

[Darranar]

11. Very likely possibilities...

quite a few politicians, Sharon and Bush aong them, don't hesitate for a second to commit actions for poltical gain or personal gain.

[Darranar]

5. And, btw...

Israel's strike had very ltittle to do with moral obligations whatsoever.

[Lefty48197]

9. The Syrians aren't stupid

they know that their territory will be completely occupied if they start any military conflict with the Israelis.

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. Occupying Syria will be a terrific run-up to the settlements in Iraq!

Besides reducing the number of American troops in harm's way, once the IDF has established a robust presence and imposed its will on Syria, some divisions can be moved to the Syria-Iraq border to prepare for the settlements there!

Unless Condi decides they'd be more useful in Iran, of course, but there really shouldn't be a problem. Thanks to years of US funding, Israel has a very respectable number of troops, trained in eliminating civilian populations and well-accustomed to the climate of the region, all ready to go now that the US needs them to achieve its military and economic objectives.