Syria Plans War Of Attrition In The Golan Heights

Assad encouraging army officers to settle in Syrian side of disputed region in preparation for possible confrontation. "We have an answer in case Israel attacks our cities," says senior official in Damascus.

In a secret message relayed to Jerusalem, Syria warned the Israeli government that should it continue to reject Damascus peace overtures, a war of attrition may break out in the Golan Heights, according to a report published Thursday.

Yedioth Ahronot has learned that in recent days Israel received reports of increased Syrian presence on its side of the Golan Heights in preparation for a possible war.

During the past year the Syrian government has encouraged its citizens to settle in the Syrian side of the Golan Heights; Israel has recently learned that many of those who have made the Golan their new home were officers in active or reserve army duty who had lost their jobs following Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005.

Should a military conflict erupt in the region, these officers are expected to spearhead acts of attrition against Israel.

For dozens of years Syrians wishing to visit the Golan Heights were required to apply for special entry permits, but in recent months citizens have been allowed to pass freely to the city of Quneitra and other towns in the region.

In addition, soldiers enlisted in Syria's reserve units have been forbidden to leave the country to ensure that they could be called up quickly in the event of a military confrontation with Israel...

What Israel needs is a LAND FOR WAR deal. It would work like this-- there would be a grid announced and provided to enemy neighbors with the priority number marked in each grid.

A simple act of violence like a rocket launch which landed in a field would mean annexation of one acre in the direction from whence it came. Something more serious like, say, a suicide attack on a shopping plaza would mean annexation of several city blocks.

Syria settling army officers near the Golan is a good thing-- it'll mean they are actually exposed rather than hiding behind the skirts of women and children in apartment buildings.

Israel should respond with a war of annihilation. Stop pussyfooting around. The number of Ayrabs killed in these wars is always limited by Western countries indulgence rather than Arab capabilities. Kill a couple of million of them, por encourage les autres..

Three strangers awaiting their flights strike up a conversation in the airport passenger lounge in Bozeman, Montana. One is an American Indian passing through from Lame Deer. Another is a Cowboy on his way to Billings for a livestock show. And the third is a fundamentalist Arab student, newly arrived at Montana State University from the Middle East who is headed to a training conference in Detroit.

Their discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon, the two Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout, radical Muslim who supports Osama Bin Laden's Jihad, so the conversation falls into an uneasy lull. The cowboy leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine table and tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside is blowing tumbleweeds around, and the old windsock is flapping; but still . . . no plane comes.

Finally, ! the American Indian clears his throat and softly, he speaks, "At one time here, my people were many, but sadly, now we are few."

The Muslim student raises an eyebrow and leans forward, "Once my people were few," he sneers, "and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?"

The Montana cowboy shifts his toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says in a drawl, "That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet, . . . but I do believe it's a-comin'."

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