Every single battle Israel fights is not in "The Book." It does; however, say that Damascus will "lie in a heap of ruin." Perhaps the reason behind the 'war' last year was to give Syria and the other players false hope that Israel is now weak, and could finally be destroyed, when, in fact, God was just setting them up for the time referred to in the Bible where Damascus will be reduced to a heap of ruin? THAT is very possible.
As far as Olmert is concerned, he is weak. He's trying to fight a war with no civilian causalities. One where he will win the hearts and minds of cold blooded killers. It WON'T work. He's in the process of releasing 250 terrorists from Israeli jails now too. A stupid move that means they will be back on the front line trying to kill Israelis. The main difference between the war last summer and the war now is that last summer they were fighting a terrorist organization. IF they have to fight Syria, they will be fighting a country. THAT is a huge difference. They won't hold back.