[Netz]

Your casual, predictable progression might happen, just as you state but you are dealing with Muslim Arabs - two very BAD combinations. These farts are unpredictable because they do not have a rational sense of being. For them, it is all about honor.

Honor is more important than life itself and if that means killing your own sister because she looked at a boy then so be it.
Insult and Honor with NO COMPROMISE is the Arab Muslim way of life so...

don't be so sure about your scenario, you (and even Obama) do not think like they do.

[montanajoe]

As I stated earlier I think Iran is so close to getting their bomb that they will stop Syria from any attack. I'm not pretending to understand their thinking but I don't think Iran will let them provoke Israel into an attack.

My hope would be that Syria does attack Israel and then the Israelis’ take care of both Syria and end Iran's nuclear threat once and for all..Is to do so.Israel cant depend on the US and will have to eventually act on its own, this might be an opportunity

I think the present administration is unwilling to do much more than use the situation for domestic political gain which is the casual response that keeps the US public distracted.