Posted on 12/14/2011 9:52:27 PM PST by Track9
JERUSALEM —In a shift, Israeli officials are welcoming the prospect that Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, will be overthrown, an event Defense Minister Ehud Barak says could be weeks away.
The officials’ new tone contrasts with conventional thinking here in years past, when Assad was credited with maintaining calm along the frontier with the Israeli-held Golan Heights and considered a stable alternative to a possible takeover by Islamic fundamentalists. ..“When the Assad family falls, it will be a major blow to the radical axis led by Iran,” Barak said “It will weaken Iran, it will weaken Hezbollah and weaken the backing for Hamas, and it will deprive the Iranians of a real stronghold in the Arab world. It will strengthen Turkey, which is a natural rival to Iran’s hegemonic intentions. . . . This is something positive for Israel.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
You notice Obama is silent on Assad and Syria. He talked more about his friend that got arrested by mistake than he has about the slaughter in Syria.
That’s because Assad is Shia, and Obama always coddles Shia and kills Sunni. Al Sadr, Iran, Assad, Hezbollah. Obama won’t touch any of them.
Osama, The Taliban, Gaddafi? Obama calls out the Special Forces, the drones and the air power.
Syria is already aggressive toward Israel by proxy thrugh support of Hezbollah. Assad is Shia, just like the Iranian Mullahs. They don’t want to see him go.
Massed attacks against Israel happened a long time ago, and were repulsed.
Meanwhile, Iran is walking softly when it comes to butting heads with Saudi Arabia about OPEC oil production targets. Saudi Arabia is pushing to allow an increase in production quotas to allow for the rapidly growing oil production in Libya to be marketed. This should help lower our gas prices.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/business/global/opec-sets-oil-production-target.html
I have never been particularly impressed with Barak, and I think he’s dreaming if he thinks Assad has been a stabilizing factor. What has this guy been smoking?
1. Assad and his father took over Lebanon
2. Assad and his father armed Hezbollah
3. Assad and his father conspired to create a massive Hezbollah arms cache in southern Lebanon, not once but twice
4. Assad and his dad supported Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al Fatah, and submarined Israel every chance they got
Barak, wow...
I see the Muslim Brotherhood’s handiwork in Syria, and that’s just one more nation that will become a puppet state under the direction of Iran.
Things ARE NOT about to get better Barak. Good grief, how did you get that job?
Since I think Assad was doing Iran’s bidding anyway, and the Muslim Brotherhood will continue on with that, I’m not sure Iran really wants Assad to stay on.
Assad clearly had the authority to do as he pleased, not always seeing eye to eye with Iran.
If the Muslim Brotherhood is a puppet organization of Iran, Iran will have a firm control of Syria on a level it didn’t have before.
Whew... It can't be a good thing when Israel says you are doomed.
...like Iraq since we put the Shiites in control.
Amen ... F15Eagle
Syrian president Assad is not Shia. The Iraqi government is Shia.
It’s hard to understand how someone regarded as a war hero could chose to join the labor party.
I’ve had the same thoughts about him.
Back when he was Prime Minister, I had to remind myself of his military service at times, rather shocked by his comments.
He’s a loose cannon IMO.
I’m not sure if he was so detached from politics while in the service that he was clueless after he got out or what, but he clearly doesn’t have both oars in the water.
Does he have a political motive..? Probably, but I doubt it's undermining Bibi's active preparations.
Well, he should certainly have more information than I do. None the less, this guy hasn’t impressed me at all over the years. Over the years I have heard him say things that undeniably showed a detachment from reality. That’s why I question his reasoning here. I’m not sold on his premise at all.
When I see trucks taking munitions out of Southern Lebanon, when I see Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al Fatah withering on the vine, when I see Lebanon regain control of it’s own government institutions, I’ll begin to have more faith in his premise. Until then, not so much.
The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt hasn’t been more pro Israel. I cannot see a scenario that finds the Muslim Brotherhood more pro Israel in Syria.
Not trying to be confrontational with you, although it may sound like it. These are just issues that I see impacting his vision.
We’ll see...
I understand what you’re saying. After all, they guy makes common cause with the liberal party.
Thanks for the exchange. Take care.
——Or just another proxy regime run by Iran.-——
No, that will not be the case.
The new Syrian regime will be as approved by the Arab League and the GCC. They will induce stability and both Hezbollah and Hamas will wither on the vine.
The net result will be to the benefit of Israel, but the primary benefit will be to the Arab League and the GCC because Iran will lose her surrogates.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.