Phares - Lebanon, Gaza, the Broader Syro-Iranian War

NRO ^ | June 21, 2007 | W. Thomas Smith Jr.

[SuzyQ2]

In analysis exclusive to "The Tank," Middle East terrorism expert Walid Phares discusses the ongoing Syro-Iranian offensive against the West; its aims, and its three primary fronts: Eastern (Afghanistan), Central (Iraq), and — in much of today's analysis — Western (Lebanon and Gaza). Also, what we may expect in the coming months.

[Jabba the Nutt]

I hope the time to nail Iran and Syria is this summer. They think our forces will be too tied up with the surge underway in the belts around and in Baghdad. They forget that the US Navy and US Air Force have simply been training and conducting small operations for 4 years. They're tan, rested and ready to go. 3 carrier strike forces are in the Gulf and 1 or 2 more reportedly on the way. NorKo is quiet for the moment.

The question is whether they'll wait for Iran's proxies to light the fuse like Hizballah last summer or keep to their own schedule.

This conflict is inevitable. Just a question of when.