Israel’s Red Line Crossed, U.S. Tacitly Backs Ally’s Strikes in Syria

The Daily Beast ^ | May 6, 2013 4:45 AM EDT | Eli Lake

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

In a series of meetings over the past year, Israel laid out to the U.S. beforehand what would trigger a strike in Syria. Eli Lake reports.

Israel did not seek permission from the United States before launching two missile strikes this weekend hitting targets inside Syria—but the strikes were part of a policy that Washington had already signaled its acquiescence to, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, damaged buildings wrecked by an Israeli airstrike are seen in Damascus, Syria, on May 5. (SANA/AP)

In a series of high-level meetings between U.S. and Israeli officials over the last year, the Israelis explained in detail the conditions that would lead them to attack targets inside Syria. Israel’s “red lines,” articulated in private and public, include the shipment from Iran of advanced anti-aircraft weapons, advanced missiles, and chemical or unconventional weapons to the Lebanese militia and political party Hezbollah, according to public reports and U.S. officials.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

H/T to Hot Air .

[ex-snook]

As in Iraq, the full-court press for our military to put in a toe is underway, mission creep to follow.

[cherry]

so Israel wants the Muslim brotherhood?.....they want a quicker death I guess...

[iopscusa]

Looks like more of that good old democracy for the Brotherhood. It sure did wonders for the Libyans and Egyptians. Israel + Muslim Brotherhood = ????

[DannyTN]

I don’t like that the press is now using “red line” for every little thing now, instead of in relation to Iran’s nuclear program.

Are they intentionally trying to confuse the meaning of the term?

[DannyTN]

I don’t like that the press is now using “red line” for every little thing now, instead of in relation to Iran’s nuclear program.

Are they intentionally trying to confuse the meaning of the term?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Don’t know what their intent is,,....sounds like they have some objective.

[geologist]

Yes they are creating a distraction from facts.

Israel is in an impossible situation. They are pushed up against the sea and have such a small nation as to have no more room to give. They treat the Palestinians very well.

It has to be evil that continually presses them to give more.

It was their land to begin with and all Bible readers know it. They gave land concessions to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Arabs, etc. It has been hell every since there was a state given to Israel. We know they had a right to land given to Abraham. they were carried off to Roman against their will.

Evil has been at work relentlessly.

[Marine_Uncle]

I almost coughed up my oatmeal as I was watching the short video at site and Cokie Roberts said....”the president doesn’t know what he is doing”. What a riot. :)

[newheart]

Before this is over, the administration will blame this all on Bush. Here’s the reasoning: If Bush had not attacked Saddam Hussein over non-existent WMDs, then Hussein would not have sent the non-existent WMDs into Syria for safe-keeping. So, except for Bush, the non-existent WMDs would not be in Syria. Bush’s fault.

[newheart]

Are they intentionally trying to confuse the meaning of the term?

'When I use a word,' Humpty O'Bumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'

[21twelve]

“We know they had a right to land given to Abraham.”

Agreed. And for folks that don't believe in the Bible I remind them that the international community agreed for opening up Israel for the Jews, and I believe the Palestinians weren't so much forced out, but sold their plots of barren land to the Jews. Of course now that the Jews have irrigated it and invested in it to turn it once again into the “land of milk and honey”....

And the Jews, after defending themselves in two(?) wars gained land - just like most other nations have conquered land (or became nations). But like you said, gave much of it back.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[SJackson]

No, Israel simply won’t tolerate chemical weapons, and particularly long range delivery systems, in Hizbollahs possession. My guess, they don’t care if Assad prevails. Given Hizbollah’s penetration in this hemisphere, and their demonstrated ability to conduct large scale attacks, on their own or at the behest of Iran, we should keep an eye on weapon transfers as well.

[PghBaldy]

It just reminds me of Obama’s weakness, given he used the term in relation to chemical weapons by Syria, and supposedly someone used them in Syria, and he does nothing.