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2004-12-24 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US may strike at Ba'athists in Syria, official tells 'Post'
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Posted by Poison Reverse 2004-12-24 12:13:21 AM|| || Front Page|| [11128 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 The administration is preparing a case against the Syrians, and this is really all the causus belli they need. Time for the boy optometrist to learn what Saddam learned too late: Don't tug on Superman's cape.
Posted by Jonathan  2004-12-24 12:37:05 AM||   2004-12-24 12:37:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 But what will the *seething* Arab maniacs street do in response?
Posted by Zhang Fei  2004-12-24 2:06:06 AM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com]  2004-12-24 2:06:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 As I mentioned before, Syria is complicit in the Iraqi insurgency. The human boomlets transit through the Syrian gateway.

-- Target bombing commences at 0300

-- Roger than, over
Posted by Capt America  2004-12-24 2:12:58 AM||   2004-12-24 2:12:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 So when do we stop emoting and start acting?
Posted by Classical_Liberal 2004-12-24 2:37:58 AM||   2004-12-24 2:37:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I can't wait for that 'High Noon' demand by "W" giving Syria 48 hours to comply and tow the line! Assad I'm sure will go into hiding!
Posted by smn 2004-12-24 2:48:30 AM||   2004-12-24 2:48:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 My $0.02... Iran and Syria are a package (with Lebanon a bonus), with Iran directing all non-Ba'athist-specific activity and funding most of the insurgency. I believe that Syria is where we will find Al Dhouri - "Red" - and that he's been there for a long time - using some of the Saddam money that Syria refuses to hand over to run his side of the insurgency in the Sunni North and West. Of course the Mad mullahs handle the Shi'a South. I presume cooperation in Baghdad operations with each doing whatever it can pull off to keep the attacks going.

I figure Al Zarqawi is a "field general" for operations planning / execution and is probably considered a convenient, but rather self-important mad dog by both Red and the Mad Mullahs.

There is a LOT of money changing hands to keep the fodder coming and the bombs going off - more and more of both must be brought in, nowadays.

I've often called Iran a 3-fer... topple the Mad Mullahs and Baby Asshat will fold or become very compliant and Lebanon is suddenly in play, as well. It all hinges on Iran, IMHO.

I believe we may make some unkind gestures toward Syria to intimidate Baby / disrupt the flow and buy some measure of peace - with one month to go before the elections, it is very timely indeed to rattle the saber at him and maybe tweak his nose with some nasty ops.

But the big deal is Iran. What we will do depends upon a ton of factors, the nuke stuff being paramount, and we are not privy to what we know (or think we know) or how accurate it is. I keep recalling Chalabi and the imbroglio involving him and feel there was soooo much going on there we don't know about - and, whatever it was, it was important, given the rather strident statements that flew about at the time. I would not be surprised to see some nasty border ops on that side, as well, to put the Mad Mullahs off their game.

I know everyone wants action. I do too. The timeframes are getting shorter and we may get what we wish for... it's only been a few weeks since Bush found out he was still President, y'know. Jan 30 is the next pivot point. Just my take.
Posted by .com 2004-12-24 3:30:10 AM||   2004-12-24 3:30:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Split the middle east, right thru Syria and Iraq
Posted by Cleath Ebbereting9331 2004-12-24 3:49:04 AM||   2004-12-24 3:49:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 It is hard to se us moving before February. After February we wil need to get agreement from Iraq. While it will probably be agreed to, It will be a non-triavial decision for them as it will be one of their first.

The way we involve the Iraqis will also be part of the message we send to Iran. I would not be surprised to see the Iraqis involved, even if only as hangers on. The experience will be good for them and it will remove the "troop shortage" from the Iranian security blanket.

It will also be interesting to see how we use the Kurds and what we do with them in northern Syria. That would be a great message for Turkey as well as Iran.

Finally, would we let Israel kick the Syrians out of Lebannon? Or will we be able to convince Syria that their mighty army can be of greater use transferred to the eastern border?

Lot's of problems can be solved with Syria's overthrow. Then we can focus on Iran.

I still believe that absent Iranian provocation we will not attack there. But attempts to overthrow the government will go into high gear once Syria is taken care of.
Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-12-24 7:17:23 AM||   2004-12-24 7:17:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Stop talking about it. Do it.
Posted by Infidel Bob  2004-12-24 9:04:12 AM||   2004-12-24 9:04:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 I think .com called. We are playing poker and now is not the time to bust a move.
Posted by Classical_Liberal 2004-12-24 11:07:59 AM||   2004-12-24 11:07:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 But when you’re being attacked from safe havens across the border – we’ve been through this a lot of times before – we’re just not going to sit there.

Can you say "Cambodia"?

I knew you could...
Posted by mojo  2004-12-24 11:36:47 AM||   2004-12-24 11:36:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 Pity that the US did not pay attention to the arms smuggling tunnels that Egypt turned a blind eye to.
They would have noticed lots of comings and goings through the tunnels by Hezbollah guys.
Iran through Syria and ultimately Hezbollah is hitting the US but there is too much PC nonsense to have learned something from the situation in Israel.
All the different groups have been swapping intel and training each other in techniques and the West was too busy differentiating between "types" of terrorism to pay attention.
Posted by Whutch Jaish6189 2004-12-24 11:39:41 AM||   2004-12-24 11:39:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 Great analysis, .com. Lots to think about. I would like to see Syria paying a price for their support of the insurgency, though. This would involve clando ops. The Syrians need to have a quiet but deadly message sent to them.
Posted by Alaska Paul in Irvine, CA 2004-12-24 1:44:43 PM||   2004-12-24 1:44:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 One at a time please, one at a time! However, I agree that at least 50% to 75% of the Sunni Triangle problems (perhaps 90%) can be eliminated by taking out the Syrian command and control sector. (There is some criminal smuggling, etc. that has gone on for over 1000 years. That will not change). (The Iranian threat is there also, but again One at a time). One punishment for Syria (and eventually Iran) that I expect will occur is that the Syrian Kurdish land area will be severed from Syria to become a part of "Kurdistan" (and give them access to ocean shipping). Probably the Kurdish lands will be also taken from Iran in a border re-alignment.

That scares the "bejesus" out of the Turks, but I expect to see it in the next 10 years. I know Kurdistan has NEVER BEEN a real geopolitical goal, but the Syrians and Iranians have NEVER BEEN such obvious trouble makers before either. The Turks will seethe, but if their security needs are met they MIGHT even want to separate Kurdish Turkey and get rid of it themselves. (I really doubt that will happen), but a Syrian border relignment could take place in the next 24 months.

Yes, I know, they all say keep Iraq intact. That depends on the Sunni Arabs in the elections in 2005. Remember, Sunni Arabs are like the Palestinians.... they NEVER MISS an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Posted by leaddog2  2004-12-24 1:50:47 PM||   2004-12-24 1:50:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 I say, let the turks seethe, like how with Seethe when they didn't let us use their land in '03. Thats Consequences.

But for now , we should definality let South Syrians know we are in the area.
Posted by Flasing Slang2798 2004-12-24 3:52:39 PM||   2004-12-24 3:52:39 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 Right after the inauguration. Synchronize your watches. 5 4 3 2 1 Hack!
Posted by RWV 2004-12-24 5:26:29 PM||   2004-12-24 5:26:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 I just hope the administration learned something from Iraq. Put out the full case openly. The case is there, and I suspect would be convincing to all non-moonbats, but they have to make it.
Posted by jackal  2004-12-24 7:18:59 PM|| [http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]  2004-12-24 7:18:59 PM|| Front Page Top

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