Posted on 02/10/2006 10:58:54 AM PST by Rutles4Ever
If Syrian President Bashar Assad continues to feel threatened by the United States and the rest of the international community, he may be pushed into a corner and decide to fire missiles at Israel, senior IDF officers from Northern Command warned this week.
According to a report released late last year by the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Syria had an estimated 45 missile launchers and had probably assembled a few Scud D rockets with a range of nearly 700 kilometers - a major threat to Israel because they can be armed with chemical warheads. Last June, Israeli military sources confirmed that Syria had test-fired three Scud missiles, despite Damascus's denials.
While Israel's border with Syria has been quiet since 1973, the military's working assumption is that Israel's next war will be on the northern front against Syria and Lebanon.
Israel, the IDF officers said, did not foresee a war with Syria in the near future and had not noticed any changes in Syrian military deployment along the northern border. But Assad's handling of diplomatic affairs has the IDF worried.
Syria has been facing numerous pressures in recent months, including the UN investigation into the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri that implicated Syrian Intelligence, and the criticism voiced against the regime by former top Syrian officials.
"We are watching and following Syria very closely, since the missile possibility exists," a senior officer told The Jerusalem Post. "Assad might decide to copy Saddam Hussein and attack Israel if the pressure on him escalates." Saddam fired missiles at Israel during the Gulf War in 1991.
For now, the officer said, the IDF did not see a reason to change its military deployment along the Syrian border. "We haven't changed anything," the officer said. "But we are staying alert and using our intelligence services to stay on top of anything that might happen in Syria that could have an impact on Israel."
While the Syrian border is quiet, Damascus has been behind attacks against Israel carried out by its proxy - Hizbullah - on Israeli military outposts in the North. According to intelligence assessments, the Hizbullah attack on an IDF position in the northern village of Ghajar in November was per Damascus's request. The IDF has put its forces along the Lebanese border on heightened alert to offset any attempts by Hizbullah to stir up tensions.
In December, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz publicly declared, "Syrian attempts to divert attention away from the country may result in heightened Hizbullah activity in the North."
"Assad is trying to relieve the pressure," one officer said this week. "Hizbullah carries out the attack, steals the world's attention, and the pressure is relieved."
Analysts cast doubt on the possibility that Assad would launch a missile strike against Israel, saying that if he did, it would definitely serve a death blow to his regime.
"Getting into a shooting match with Israel would not help his situation," said Dr. Mark Heller, a senior research associate at the Jaffee Center.
Yiftah Shapir, a former IDF Intelligence officer and a senior researcher at the Jaffee Center, backed up Heller and claimed that while Syria was armed with Scud missiles, they were not meant to be used in an attack on Israel but to serve as a deterrent to an Israeli attack and to balance the military powers in the region.
"No one can accurately predict what Assad has in his head and what he will do," Shapir said. "Technically, he has the power to launch missiles if he wants to, but the possibility is slim."
But if Assad were to make such a "mistake," Shapir said, "he knows Israel's capabilities, and if a Scud falls here, Israel will respond fiercely."
See if Glenn Beck has a post of this on his website, or you may have to join his 24/7 thing like all of them have now to hear the replay.
I have heard about the Ambassador here on the Freep, but don't take my word for it, I may have missed something in the translation from Mr. Beck, but I think I am pretty accurate.
If Syrian President Bashar Assad continues to feel threatened by the United States and the rest of the international community, he may be pushed into a corner and decide to fire missiles at Israel, senior IDF officers from Northern Command warned this week.
No such luck.
5.56mm
[ Note the Danish priorities! All the more inimical to Syria and Iran's interests! ]
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Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York |
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON WORK OF COMMISSION INVESTIGATING
KILLING OF FORMER LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER HARIRI
(Delayed in transmission.)
The following statement to the press was delivered on 13 January by Security Council President Augustine P. Mahiga (United Republic of Tanzania):
The members of the Security Council welcome the Secretary-General's decision to appoint Mr. Serge Brammertz as the Commissioner of the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
They commend his predecessor, Mr. Detlev Mehlis, for his outstanding work as the head of the Commission.
The members of the Security Council also took note with satisfaction of the Secretary-GeneralÂs decision to dispatch rapidly a mission to Lebanon in order to fully implement resolution 1644.
They reiterate their full support for the work of the Commission and its mandate to assist the Lebanese authorities to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.
They reaffirm the need for all parties concerned to cooperate fully and unconditionally with the Commission, in accordance with resolutions 1595, 1636 and 1644.
* *** *
For information media • not an official record
Ohfercryinoutloud...........let 'em attack Israel and see JUST how long they exist as a country.
The Israeli military does NOT f**k around. God bless 'em.
No. Jerusalem Post is very reliable.
Hehe I was thinking the same thought. Syria got its ass kicked FOUR TIMES by the IDF since 1948. As Clint Eastwood also said "feelin lucky? Well do ya PUNK!?"
I was joking, but the suggestion appears so fanciful, even if reliable, that it seems to veer into "DEBKA terrority."
Assad declaring a shooting war on Israeli territory is an open invitation to the 4th Infantry division to set their tents up in his palace grounds. Ain't gonna happen.
--- Nah, Syria will attack the only country it has a chance to defeat.
France.
Provided Damascus has a fax machine to send the surrender terms to France.---
I disagree - Asswad would never attack the country that's most likely to offer him asylum after he's ousted (as France has aleady done with the likes of Khomeini and Duvalier).
Thank you for your research. I have found a ton of info on websites. I will post the links later, (family time) In brief, it looks like Demark is up for a permanent seat on the the Security Council, this is what the hub bub may be about since they were pro-USA on Iraq and are also involved in a Counter-Terrorism Committee as well!
I'll post links later.....
I knew that was you even before I checked the name! LOL
" Why then is Putin hosting the Chief Terrorist of Hamas?"
Cuz the Chechnyan Head Terrorist couldn't make it?
Daniel Ortega is expected to win the election in Nicaragua, and Yushenko is expected to lose his parlment in the Ukraine, subjecting Ukraine to Russian rule again.
The Arabs also always lose wars to the US.
Pootie poot is a communist, and communists will do stuff like that.
While that may be, in this case I think he's more of an anti Semitic Russian nationalist. If the Muslims are killing Russians, then are terrorists, if they are killing Jews, especially Israeli Jews, why they're Freedom Fighters, at least according to Putin.
I checked the UN Security Council website. The Danes are not in line to be the head of the Security Council until June. This month it's the US. :). Check the link for this year's lineup, as well as a full list of Security Council membership, and when each member's term expires. (US, Russia, UK, France, China are permanent members, with Veto power)
Because of that Veto, don't expect much of the UN SC on this issue. And don't let taking it to them be used to avoid taking necessary action, since they aren't likely to do so.
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