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Arab official: Syrian general mulling war with Israel
Smadar Peri
Published: 14.08.07, 09:29
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. Israel's NE mies are taking advantage of Olmert's weakness
john ,   nz   (08.14.07)
If the ppl of Israel don't want war, get rid of Olmert. It is evident that since he came into power, Israel is in more danger. That old man has got to go ASAP
2. If this isn't a reason to INVADE I don't know what is!!!!!
(08.14.07)
3. Why aren't the bomb shelters & gas masks ready?
Zvi   (08.14.07)
4. Waiting around to be attacked.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (08.14.07)
What an excellent strategy our gov't has - even better than our excellent strategy in 1973. Look what a great success that was in defending our country. In any case, the Golan is a pretext. Arab aggression is primarily an internal problem. The article hints at the truth- pressure from Iran, the Hariri investigation, a failing regime, a bit of opportunism because of Olmert's weakness & obvious paralysis, & never underestimate the delusional fantasy of the Arab mind in make-believe chances of victory. The sad fact of the matter is that our best option will always be preemptive military action. War with Syria is long overdue - we never should have allowed them time to upgrade their military. Now, a conflict will cost us far more, just as waiting for Hezbollah to gain strength or watching Gaza become S. Lebanon is ultimately a costly blunder. It is a sad fact of life in this neighborhood that only war brings temporary peace, that only smashing the hell out of our enemies is a valid strategy.
5. lies!
L.O. Eyecue ,   Tel Aviv   (08.14.07)
Just last week Olmert assured us there is no chance whatsoever there will be war with Syria! Why do you doubt him?
6. Syrian general mulling war with Israel
monique   (08.14.07)
The funny and sad thing according to yesterday's J post is that Barak doesn't want to hand out the gas masls to the population for fear that the Syrians will think that Israel is preparing to attack it! When we should be preparing for attack atleast according to this article!
7. its simply suicide.
(08.14.07)
its war against god.
8. SPINMASTERS
DAVID ,   JUDEA   (08.14.07)
As I recall,Ynet published a article by our supreme leader olmert last week ,that there would be no war with syria. Now they publish this, it seems that our media boys are getting a little dizzy from all this spinning. At least when things are realy going wrong here, they can claim we told you so. Meanwhile nothing gets done and we just sit and wait until the rockets will rain down on us. If we are still here after that happens, imangine how many more commissions can be appointed, to point fingers at everyone,while nothing gets done. One year after the failure of lebanon the same people are still keeping their seats warm. Bombshelters and other war preparations to protect us are still waiting to be done. At least we give our enemies enough reasons to feel comfertable to attack us.
9. Terry from Eilat for PRESIDENT!
Adam ,   London   (08.14.07)
10. Dont harm SyrianCity Women&Children when they Rocket TelAviv
Alan ,   SA   (08.14.07)
11. the general should mull over where he will flee to
jack bauer ,   AU   (08.14.07)
which country do you think he would like to live in? That is in exile. Exile because after he gets a sound thrashing his political masters will disown him. Exile because his country will be defeated and he will be forced to step down in shame. If only the lily livered Israeli leaders would be shamed and forced to step down instead of be appointed to political positions
12. as long as olmert is p.m,there will be war
chaim schonbrun ,   brooklyn n.y   (08.14.07)
as long as this criminaly insane,pathetic incompotent wimp is p.m,there will definitly be war ,because syria knows that with this incompotent wimp,at the head of this country,they will have a very good chance of winning,just as hezbollah won last year. israeli citizens,please,please get rid of this idiot,now.and maybe you will avoid this war
13. Mulling = What arabs Do Before Total Humiliation
Juan Epstein ,   Brokklyn, USA   (08.14.07)
keep mulling there achmeeed !
14. #10, But its OK if THEY harm OUR women and children...
(08.14.07)
when THEY rocket Tel Aviv??? Alan, where are you from and what drugs are you taking? my GAWD!!!
15. Consequences
Jason, Ph.D. ,   USA   (08.14.07)
I am going to keep saying this until I turn blue in the face. Israel must make it crystal clear to Syria that if Syria launches rocket attacks against Israel, Israel will respond with nuclear weapons. I think this is the best way to prevent Syria from attacking. Of course, Israel has to follow through with this if this deterrence fails.
16. Bashar Assad, for your and your country's survival
(08.14.07)
you have to do the following: 1. Arrest general Asef Shawkat now. 2. Arrest Mashal now. 3. Stop all communication lines with the ayatollah state. 4. Stop marching, showing and preparing your weapons and missiles. 5. Allow the Hariri inquest go on and cooperate with the international court. 6. Stop arms transfers to Hezbollah's hands. 7. Allow your people some mental sanity, if not democracy. Only if and when you are ready to apply into practice these points, will your country really have a lifeline to the world. If you believe that Israel is weak and won't be able to crush all of Syria, you are a bigger fool than shown on television and, definitely, you are delluding yourself and putting your people in harm's way.
17. wait and Iran will strenghen the Syrian millitary
zionist forever   (08.14.07)
Nobody likes war but a war with Syria is needed right now its also the perfect time politicly the US would love an Israel/Syria war because they want the Syrians to learn they are not as important as they would like to think. A war may lead to the overthrow of Assad and cost Iran an ally so the Americans wont be going out of their way at the UN to stop it and be using behind the scenes preasure. Its also the right tme for Israel. Right now as an attempt to strenghen their alliance Iran is paying Syrias debts to Russia and providing them with lots of new toys to rebuild Syrias millitary capabalities to a level it hasnt been for decades. Sit and wait only makes any future war more costly to Israel... in 1973 King Hussain secretly flew to Israel told Golda that Egypt had approached him asking him to join an alliance .. she didnt believe him. When the generals were telling her that the Egyptians were building up forces on the border and war was likley her reply was do nothing because we want the UN to see Israel as a vicitm not an aggresor. The result of this stupidlty brought Israel close defeat and cost alot of lives. At the moment Assad has pretty good system of anti aircraft defenses, his tanks are from the 60s and 70s .. no match against a merkava 4. It has some aging MIGS and Syrian pilots are some of the worst in the region. It probably has around 50 scuds which can reach Israel. Israels pilots and planes are the best in the region, tanks top of the rangeit has plenty of Jehrico 1,2 and 3 missles which can reach any state in the Middle East and Europe. So if Syria fires missles against Israeli towns then Isreael can fire missles against Syrian ones fair is fair. Israel also has arrow and PAC 2 patriot missles defense system which could deal with most Syrian missles. Within hours Damascuss will be pile of rubble and when the war is over the Golan wont be the prime concern when it comes to getting territory back from Israel. When Syria has been smashed and Saddams post 1991 army will look like a superpower compared to Syrias then Israel will be in a position to dicate the terms .. we will give you this bit of land and we agree to a ceacefire and in return to formerly reliquish to any claims of soverignty over the Golan and it becomes internationaly recognised as part of Israel. In 1956 Israel agreed to join the British and French in the Suez war because Egypt had just got some new jets from the Soviets which was better than anything Israel had so Ben Gurion decided hit now destroy the Egyptian planes before the Egyptians learn how to use them. In 1981 it was decided to fly to Iraq bomb Saddams neuclear reactor before he got a bomb. It wasnt untill 1991 the allies who condemed Israel at the time discovered just how close he came getting that bomb and suddenly they were gratefull. That the kind of pre emptive thnking and courage thats needed now to deal with Syria hit Assad while he is weak dont wait for his millitary sitution improoves and put him in a better situation to make demands. The best defense is a good offense something the Israeli politicians should thnk about.
18. These are all accurate posts.
David ,   Hartford, USA   (08.14.07)
Assad's general tells him that war is the only way to get Israel to the peace table. Assad doesn't fully understand that the only table he will be able to sit at will be in Israel as most of his country will be in ruins. I'm sure his adoring public will treat him as well as the Italians treated Il Duce when they caught up with him. Are your feet clean, Mr. Assad? Not a nice way to go, if you know what I mean. If you want to live in peace, why not call up Olmert and say "Keep the Golan with our blessings! I want full peace right now. Let's build some joint water projects and turn the area into the breadbasket of the mideast." Why not show some breakthrough thinking? You are the President of Syria! Don't let some know-nothing general who has accomplished nothing in his entire career tell you what to do. This is your chance to change the face of the mideast for the better. If you make the wrong choice, your 'dynasty' is over (as most likely your life), your country will be in ruins, and your people will experience hardships that even they can't imagine. Is this what you want? Come on, Mr. Assad, is peer pressure from the other states so much that you can't do what's best for your people? Be a man! Anyone can make the easy decisions (like your general) - but it's up to you to make the one decision that will either bring peace or war to the area. How do you want history to remember you? The Arab leader who brought peace or the Arab leader who plunged the area into a war that saw tens of thousands of civilians killed. I can assure you though, whatever happens to Israel will happen to Syria a thousand times worse. The world is confident that you, an educated man, a physician, will do what's best for your people and humanity. Please don't let us down.
19. #17
(08.14.07)
as an israeli and jew, as much as i destest war and cringe everytime one of our soldiers dies or is wounded, I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. just by looking and examining history of conflicts inflicted on israel time and again, i think that your analysis is accurate. it is sad to say, but israelis have forgotten the true comment...arabs understand and respect only strength and deterrance....this is also customery in their arab countries and this mentality is practiced by despotic repressive arab rulers that come to power by killing, maiming, raping, torture and scaring off any opposition to their regimes and its continuation. once israel understands their power mentality and what can destroy it....and you guys should have learned arab style by now....only then can these so called rulers and their terror infrastructure can be dealt a blow to. it is time israel fought in the same manner arabs understand. take the white gloves off, think the way they think. you cannot combat them without behaving exactly like them. stop with warning civilians, dtop with planning and waiting, stop with political correctness and appeasements, stop with the so called correct way of fighting a war. these do not work. as one sees what happened in 2006 in lebanon. know your enemy. and when you know the enemy, apply whatever methods they apply. total retaliation without reservation and damn world opinion. do not go into battle thinking of how many casualties you'll have and learn that there will be, unfortunately, casualties. you can't send crybabies into the army. if you do, you'll be defeated. plan, preempt and act. this is your only defense. waiting for them to attack is catering to world opinion in seeing israel as the victim. if you wait, you'll be the victim! act against syria now. they are arming and ready and they are planning. if they don't attack now, be sure that they will atatck at a later date and will again surprise you. be smart. be ready for anything and act on it. shoot, but i miss moshe dayan and menachem begin.
20. re #16
woww ,   LA, USA   (08.14.07)
It's all nice, but everybody has skeletons and who knows Bashar's better than Asaf and Mashal??
21. To Israel. Order Mossad To Capture Asef Shawkat.
Maansingh ,   The Netherlands   (08.15.07)
Syrian military intelligence chief, General Asef Shawkat : -- doesn't want to be photographed, -- is harboring hundreds of insurgents who killed US soldiers, -- has been linked to the assassination of Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri. -- has delivered the Syrian Army to the Ayatollahs of Iran, -- is controlling President Bashar Assad, -- wants a military confrontation between Syria and Israel. CONSIDERING all those points Israel should order the Mossad to capture Asef Shawkat. WHY ? Because this man is a dangerous person -- he didn't mind killing a democratically elected PM of an independant country -- he doesn't mind STARTING a war between Syria and Israel, to protect himself. THIS dangerous man should be taken into CUSTODY as soon as possible -- than the region will be a LESS volatile place. AS LONG AS he is free -- the whole region will be in GREAT danger.
22. Assad is a moderate not a militant RIGHT ???
M. Segal ,   Mpls America   (08.15.07)
The Syrian nationial security council headed by Assad who is a moderate along with four 4 other moderates also too has five 5 militants up on it this ten 10 member Syrian N S C thus would need agree or have a majority vote to agree to attack Israel a even vote is a no vote thus compromise is the militants only way but of course American Israeli propaganda does not tell you this isolating Syria offering deals that are unacceptable to either side RIGHT ??? if I were Assad I would make America Israel pay for this RIGHT ??? THANK YOU... M. Segal
23. TO #18
joyce ,   FL, USA   (08.15.07)
I think what you are telling the Syrian president is: DON'T BE A GEORGE W BUSH!
24. Re: #22 right, but...
woww ,   LA, USA   (08.15.07)
what id the "militants" don't wait for a go ahead. Remember 2 years ago in Lebanon? What can Bashar do? Go public against his own family??
25. SYRIA'S GOLAN....
WENDELL BRYANT ,   GASTONIA, N C .   (08.18.07)
HAVING BEEN VERSED IN BATTTLEGROUND SCENARIOS, HAVING BEEN IN THE US NAVY, DURING THE FINAL YEARS OF VIET NAM.... IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT HE WHO CONTROLS THE HIGH GROUND IN A THEATRE OF WAR, OR CONTROLS THE AIRWAYS, CAN PRETTY WELL CONTROL THE THEATRE OF BATTLE........... SYRIA WANTS GOLAN, FROM THERE THEY ARE LOGISTICALLY STRONG TO LOB MISSLES THROUGHOUT Y'ISRAEL...............
26. Syrian General Mulling War/Israel
Rick Tipton ,   CastleRock,U.S.   (08.19.07)
Syria has no claim to the Golan Heights
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