Posted on 07/16/2006 4:14:08 AM PDT by Tom D.
I believe the russians have port facilities with the syrians. They more or less have taken over some port areas for a base giving them a warm water port.
RE post 19. Actually, only Syria believes that. Iran WANTS a war. It will hasten the arrival of the 12th Mahdi which will bring a new world-wide caliphate. See?
Another reason Israel could be attacking Syria is to taunt Iran to become more active in this war, thus providing Israel a reason to go bomb some of Irans nuke sites?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1642333/posts?page=1
True and they're using Hezbollah to do their dirty work so that when Israel attacks them they'll claim to be the victims.
I keep thinking Six Day's War. When IDF rolls up her sleeves and gets busy....well
It sure reads that way. Celebrate hate!
"Israel needs to by-pass Lebanon, bomb Syria and surround Hizbollah with the help of the U.S. and Britain. Then Iran can bargain or be gone."
I believe one of the biggest missed opportunities was that Israel we not involved back in the Spring of 2003. American forces moving towards Bagdad could have been split in two with something like the 3rd Army (in size) marching towards Damascus with the Israelies driving through the Baka valley towards Damascus from the west in a General Sherman fashion.
"I heard that Russia is Syria's alli. Anyone else heard that?"
I think it has become well established Russia is always on the side opposit the USA
A Fujar rocket(sp?)? I asked on another thread who made it. Like we don't know...
Well dammit, it's 5 am, so I'm turning on the TV.
.....Perhaps they should look up at the Golan heights....
As I recall, in 1973, IDF armour was well on the way to Damascus with no Syrian troops in the way. The force was stoppped and recalled and all realize the way to Damascus was clear.
I was JUST thinking of him the other day...we could use him around the ME right about now...
Israel has learned from the American experience in two Persian Gulf wars and has adopted US methods in aggressive warfare. This IS NOT a "punitive raid". Israel means what it says about destroying Hamas and Hizbollah. Anything less than their destruction is a victory for the bad guys. This is an aggressive, offensive war against those two terrorist organizations. There will be no early cease fire.
Having decided on an offensive strategy, Israel is taking its time and doing it right. They have, so far, restricted their operations in both Gaza and Lebanon to:
1) Transportation facilities
2) Decapitation strikes at headquarters and living quarters of opposition leadership
3) Power generation facilities
4) Special forces operations
5) Undoubtedly, reconnaissance by air and SOF
In addition, they are calling up the reserves, in essence mobilizing their entire citizen army. What does this mean? They are "shaping the battlespace" in Gaza and Lebanon and getting ready for a massive offensive.
Their diplomatic ducks are also in a row, although it might not look like it to the casual European observer. The US, Canada, the UK and Australia have all expressed support for Israel. In point of fact, the Israeli's don't need anyone else's approval.
President Bush is not pressing Israel to stand down. In fact, he has called for Hizbollah to "lay down their arms". He knows this won't happen. The US is quite willing to give Israel a free hand in Lebanon and Gaza. If Syria feels compelled to fight, so be it. The US knows Israel can handle the Syrians fairly easily.
If Iran wants to get involved, good luck to them. The Air and Naval forces of the world's only superpower, plus 150,000 well trained ground troops stand between Iran and Israel. They can fulminate and threaten but they are restricted to using the weapons in place right now unless Iran wants a general war (and a thorough a** kicking). An escalation involving NBC weapons or missles launched from Iran would invite retaliation from Israeli and maybe the US. If that happens, look for a quick, decisive, few holds barred air campaign to disarm and decapitate the Iranian regime.
Mubarak is just hoping he can keep his people under control if the war does spread.
They won't use them unless they have to but they will use them.
I seriously doubt it will come to that. Not unless Israel is being slaughtered and pushed into the sea, which I don't believe the arabs can do nor will Bush allow to happen.
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