[NinoFan]

This is pretty big news. For some reason, you seem convinced that neither Iran or Syria is going to jump into the fray, but right here we have Syria saying it's going to do that. "Our full support" implies military support.

[Southack]

"This is pretty big news. For some reason, you seem convinced that neither Iran or Syria is going to jump into the fray, but right here we have Syria saying it's going to do that. "Our full support" implies military support."

Nope. If Syria was going to jump in with military support, they'd keep quiet as long as possible to give them a potential surprise element.

Won't happen. This is Arab happy talk, nothing more.

Neither Iran nor Syria will save Hezbollah from Israel this year. Carve it into stone. Bookmark this post. Quote me on it.

And while you're at it, take note that Syria isn't mobilizing its Reserves.

[RDTF]

Southack intends to hijack this thread and provoke a debate just like he has on the others.

[Enchante]

"Our full support" implies military support.

True, but communiques from such regimes are so often drowning in bombast it's hard to know what can be taken literally and what is just hot air for their demented subjects. My inexpert opinion is that they mean to "support" with fervent denunciations of Israel plus whatever supplies and weapons they can still get into Lebanon. Doubt they would invite direct armed conflict with Israel, though it may still come to that since all the past Syrian support of Hezbollah and Hamas is already an act of war. Israel has plenty of justification for hitting Syria hard, but whether either government (Syria or Israel) will let it come to that, who knows?

[BunnySlippers]

I, for one, don't know what to make of it.

But after Clinton I can parse statements. The "Syrian people fully support" may not mean the Syrian military might would be used to support. Just that the people support.

See what the Clinton years have done to me?

[Turbo Pig]

... but right here we have Syria saying it's going to do that. "Our full support" implies military support.

Which is exactly why Israel, with US support, should punch Syria right in the mouth, as hard as possible; right now.

They are the proverbial paper tiger in the region. Israel would roll them up in short order. Iran can't risk a direct confrontation with the US, at this time. We would kick their a$$e$, and the mullahs know it. What they can do is sacrifice Syria, in hopes of bringing the rest of the dysfunctional Islamic world into the fray.

IMO, Assad is a mere shadow of his father, and has little hope of walking a political tight rope on this one. The only way he gets off easy is if the US and Israel let him. Again, IMO, this would be a huge mistake, because the Arab world would see it a a sign of weakness. Come to think of it, so would I.