Ben-Eliezer: Israel has information that Syria is hosting Al-Qaida terrorists

The Jerusalem Post ^ | September 6, 2002 | THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF

[anotherview]

Sep. 6, 2002

Ben-Eliezer: Israel has information that Syria is hosting Al-Qaida terrorists

By THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israel has some information about Syria approving the station of Al-Qaida fighters in Lebanon, Israel Radio reported.

The Defense Minister was speaking in a special New Year's interview with an Israel Radio reporter.

"We have some information," Ben-Eliezer said. "I don't think it should surprise anyone ... Syria has now become one of the worst terror hosting countries in the world, the radio said."

[anotherview]

...and we are concentrating soly on Iraq because????

[zarf]

Your point is?

[colorado tanker]

"...and we are concentrating soly on Iraq because????" Because Iraq is once again close to producing nukes and Syria isn't. And Iraq's army poses a threat to Kuwait and Saudi, where Israel can whip Syria in their spare time. Patience, my friend. We'll deal with the Syrians, all in good time.

[mikhailovich]

I bet we can all rest assured there is planning for neighboring butthead nations, should they want some action.

[hchutch]

Hmm... I seem to recall a thread about an American armor shipment to Jordan. It seems that it could be a division of labor between us and the Israelis. We take Iraq, they take Syria. A 1-2 punch so hard that Assad and Saddam won't be able to help each other out.

[mhking]

Syria has now become one of the worst terror hosting countries in the world

Israel can shoot through Syria en route to Baghdad...

[Grampa Dave]

I doubt if the Islamakazis in charge in Syria and Iran think that we are only concentrating on Iraq.

Those two countries are very politically unstable. Syria doesn't even have oil to sell for terrorism. They raise fund by selling terrorism to the Opeckers and Saddam.

Iran is very close to a full scale rebellion.

[hchutch]

We have time to deal with Iran (2-3 years before it gets serious), and we ought to use it. Recommission the Iowa-class battleships so they can neutralize Iran's silkworm batteries, and allow the Marines to make an amphibious landing, for a start.

[colorado tanker]

"Hmm... I seem to recall a thread about an American armor shipment to Jordan. It seems that it could be a division of labor between us and the Israelis. We take Iraq, they take Syria. A 1-2 punch so hard that Assad and Saddam won't be able to help each other out."

I believe we are selling tanks to Jordan under the same program we are selling to Egypt. And right now there is a MEU war gaming with the Jordanians.

You have a very interesting theory. I note that the Isrealis just accused Syria of posting Al Qaeda to Lebanon. And of course, the Jordanians and Syrians have always gotten on so well (not!). You just might have something there.

[js1138]

One domino at a time.

[hchutch]

Israel and Jordan watching our flank?

Question is, will the Egyptians go along with it?

[hchutch]

No different than how the DOJ finally was able to put John Gotti away:

They cut a deal with Sammy "The Bull" Gravano.

[Poohbah]

Recommission the Iowa-class battleships so they can neutralize Iran's silkworm batteries, and allow the Marines to make an amphibious landing, for a start.

hchutch, the Iowas were accidents waiting to happen during their last recommissioning. They are sixty years old. Even laid up, they've aged badly.

Secondly, the Iowas have a maximum range of 25 miles on their main batteries, and they are none too accurate at that range. Silkworms can be located more than 25 miles inland and still cover the entire Gulf. They can use TLAM to attack from 1,500 miles away...but they can be fired from other ships as well.

[The Vast Right Wing]

What makes you think we are only focusing on Iraq? While it is true that we are focusing on Iraq in public, what makes you believe we aren't doing things in private that will set the stage for action against Syria and Iran?

[hchutch]

The Marines will still need gunfire support. And the USNFSA thinks they can be refurbished.

I dunno. Iran could be a real wild card. If they make a move while we're going after Iraq, we're in trouble.

[Poohbah]

The Marines will still need gunfire support.

Not badly enough to (a) risk blowing up the ship (which damn near happened on the Iowa), and (b) risk getting their own troops whacked by a stray 16-inch round (which, given how poor the accuracy is--the definition of "danger close" with 16-inch fire is any fire delivered within two nautical miles of the observer--will certainly happen with enough salvos fired).

And the USNFSA thinks they can be refurbished.

Yup, it's easy, from their point of view. Of course, they won't be the ones doing the actual work, so I tend to take their claims with a grain of salt.

I'm tired of people shorting what I work on (C4ISR) to fund some mostly symbolic project like the battleships. If we need that kind of fire support, we need to build new ships with new technology.

[hchutch]

Very true. The 5" guns are okay, but I'd rather have something at least in 8", and if we can develop long-range rounds for a 16" gun, I'd feel much better. Build some new battleships - and make it snappy.

The thing is, Iran could decide to help their warlord in Herat out while we're dealing with Saddam.