Posted on 12/03/2006 7:05:28 PM PST by Sabramerican
Syria smuggling long-range missiles to Hizbullah
Long-range missiles as well as truckloads of advanced anti-tank missiles originating in Iran and Syria have been smuggled to Hizbullah in Lebanon during the past four months since the war ended this summer, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The IDF destroyed most of Hizbullah's long-range missile array during the month-long war, including the Iranian-made Fajr and Zelzal. But according to new intelligence obtained by the defense establishment, Hizbullah has received in the four months since the war, weapon convoys carrying short-range missiles, anti-tank missiles and long-range missiles. Most of the weapon convoys crossed into Lebanon from Syria at night.
With the increasing possibility that Hizbullah protests, launched in Beirut on Friday, will topple the US-backed government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, the Israeli defense establishment had decided not to take any chances and on Sunday raised the level of alert in the North. Israel is concerned that the Lebanese instability will ignite the situation along the Israel's northern border.
Hizbullah, Military Intelligence believes, might use the Lebanese political instability as an excuse to launch attacks against Israel, not necessarily by renewing Katyusha rocket attacks - 4,000 rockets were fired at Israel during the 34-day war this past summer - but by firing anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli aircraft which fly over Lebanon to collect intelligence.
Hizbullah "nature reserves" - camouflaged underground systems of tunnels and bunkers used as hideouts for guerrillas - are still operating in southern Lebanon despite the beefed up presence of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) south of the Litani River. These areas are designated as "closed military zones" for UNIFIL and the LAF and are used as training centers for Hizbullah as well as storehouses for their weapons and rocket caches.
While UNIFIL and the LAF presence in southern Lebanon has forced Hizbullah to conceal its weapons, MI does not believe that the multinational force is not an "obstacle" for the guerrilla Shi'ite group. If Saniora's government falls, MI does not foresee UNIFIL being automatically expelled from Lebanon but rather the sponsor countries, including Italy and France, having to decide whether they will pull their troops out or not.
Hizbullah, MI has learned, has been using the post-war period to rehabilitate its armed wing. MI believes that "sooner or later" Hizbullah will resume military operations against Israel in the form of mortar and rocket attacks on northern Israeli communities as well as kidnapping attempts along the border.
MI believes that if Israel "engaged" Syria and offered a renewal of dialogue between the two countries, President Bashar Assad would accept the offer although without any preconditions. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out the possibility of talks with Syria, which he has called the "single most aggressive member of the axis of evil."
While there existed a chance for war with Syria - the Syrian military has been at readiness since the war in Lebanon - MI does not believe Assad will initiate a conflict with Israel despite remarks he recently made regarding the option of military action as a means to redeem the Golan Heights.
MI's assessment does however cite an "escalation" in tension between the countries due to Syria's support of Hizbullah including the supply of weapons to the guerrilla group as well as the strategic alliance Damascus has forged with Iran.
It did?
Yes our country acts like Gomer when it simply holds meetings, gives away taxpayer dollars for appeasment and watches incredulously as the action unfolds.
But , but ,but the French and Germans were placed there by the UN to stop this from happening.. What Happened?? how could they do this right under the frenchies noses. Those missiles must be awful small if the Syrians could sneak them by those alert and ready french troops.
Rick Warren thinks Syria is a tolerate, peaceful country. Go figure.
It is a mystery to me as to why Israel has not been more proactive in indicting the import of weapons to hostile hands that can hit it. I am not bomb thrower, but that seems rather basic. Maybe I missed some nuance.
To be fair, you need a pic of Olmert. Condi is not Olmert's nurse.
Maybe tell the French: who would be shocked at the arm smuggling going on?
FYI
If Olmert got on his knees and begged for a cease fire, Rice should have realized it was very much not in the US's interest.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747923/posts
As the WSJ repeated after me- until Rice raised her hand, nothing was lost. The terms she agreed to, lost everything- including Lebanon.
I'm shocked.
Nancee
Round 2,... coming up!
I don't know about you, but I'm sick of this sh*t. The Arabs do as they want and kill as they want. Israel has a shlemiel for a PM, who believes that the country should placate it's way to peace.
Meantime, while Olmert the Schmo, is "patient" and "constrained", rockets fall on Sderot daily, Hamas has a 57 year old grandmother blow herself up (not that she had a brain in her head, since she did it willingly), and Hezbollah is about to seize control in Lebanon.
And, 3 kidnapped soldiers remain in the hands of the Arabs. But Olmert the Schmo, is being "patient" and "constrained" and the Israel High Court INSTRUCTS the government to recognize gay marriages.
I'm beginning to despair.
Would you care to translate "Schmo" for me? This near atheist WASP has a fondness for Yiddish words, and adding another to my vocabulary is my desire. Go figure.
Didn't see that one coming! MAP of Syria. Looks like Israel could do an end-around through the Golan Heights, and head for Damascus. Yikes! The IDF would be less than 80 miles from Damascus!
That would seal the Hizbollanimals in Southern Lebanon, forcing them to move South into a very dangerous Israel. I like it! Well, count the mosques in your neighbourhoods, note their locations, then stay well armed and safe!.................FRegards
Everyone who is surprised by this clap your hands. Hallooo? Anyone there?
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