Opinion  Ron Ben-Yishai
No need to panic
Ron Ben-Yishai
Published: 28.08.13, 22:59
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21 Talkbacks for this article
1. Hi Ron, you sat the other day with Atilla discussing
Israeli 2   (08.29.13)
the impending attack on Syria, but they are reluctant and afraid to attack their Muslim masters. So what will they do? 1) Assad remains in power. 2) They will not confiscate their chemical weapons because 3) They will not put their boots on the ground. 4) Very limited fire power if at all. So what is all this about? False Bravado? Address these issues please...instead of praising Obama and their friends.
2. What was rational about the chemical attack?
(08.29.13)
3. If the Assad regime "always acted rationally"...
Jeff ,   USA   (08.29.13)
it wouldn't have just provoked an American intervention by shooting nerve gas at civilians in a Damascus suburb.
4. If anything, this farce will teach Iran that anything goes.
tom ,   tel aviv   (08.29.13)
5. 1 false bravado
CJK   (08.29.13)
obama is always in the wrong country, playing golf, sending the wrong message, talking to the wrong people, ignoring the essential, hiding behind words that are invariably empty and meaningless.
6. ben yishai knows nothing
alexi   (08.29.13)
isael has all themeans to deal with syrian responses however they come and do not need US assets. Jordan certainly and turkey to some degree need US protection/ Israel however does not need US support. This shows how little ben yishai knows about the idf under yaalon.
7. No mentioning WHATSOEVER here...
Gunnar ,   Gothenburg, Sweden   (08.29.13)
...of the fact that the situation in Syria since March 2011 is the worst humanitarian disaster since Rwnda and the Balkans in the 1990:s. No mentioning of the more 100 000 casualties. No mentioning of the more than 5 million refugees. What does this say about the author?? Well, as an Israeli right-winger (and as such with well-known affection for "regional stability") - not surprising!! As a human being - disgraceful!!!!
8. leaders
john ,   toronto   (08.29.13)
Despicable leaders with no morals. I would not single one alone , there are many.
9. We saw how rationally they acted
John   (08.29.13)
When they used chemical weapons
10. the real problem
(08.29.13)
Ben-Yishai is right that Assad is rational and has a clear goal: live and prevent genocide of the Alawi. Other players are also rational: Israel, Russia, China, Jordan, even Turkey. The problem is that Obama is not rational: he rants about carrying out an illegal attack on Syria that cannot serve any American interest. The Russians should have said that the US is acting like a monkey with a grenade.
11. You err !.
Arn. ,   Sweden.   (08.29.13)
A situation of ratonality to attack Israel may also occur. What would the Sunnis in Syria do against the Alawites, if they gain the upper hand ? Assad and His Alawites. . will fall and the only Question is how low The Yelling of diplomatic solution says that the Assads are awere that they will. Arn.Sweden.
12. Gunnar , schmunnar, Abdel Aziz Omar al Bashir of Sudan
Miron ,   USA   (08.29.13)
murdered 2 million Sudanese. He didn't sit one minute in Haague prison, because he sold his country oil for pennies to your masters from Amsterdam. So, you want a drop of Syrian oil, schmunnar, grab your rifle and head in Syria. In the meantime, someone please refresh my memory, how many articles English speaking press published about attacking Suran?
13. He may think that it is rational to attack Israel
Zev ,   Israel   (08.29.13)
through his Hisballa or Hamas allies or even himself and blame it on others.
14. So far the US has yet to act.
R ,   Israel   (08.29.13)
I think the public is just preparing, not panicking. No one really knows how this is going to play out. Guys like Asad are not normal and can easily be triggered to do crazy, inhuman things. The public MUST be given formal instructions for preparation in case of G-d forbid an attack. WE need MORE volunteer emergency workers and more medical supplies for every corner of Israel distributed TODAY! Groups of people need to be trained to help out. THAT effort needs to start now! Only THIS will help us not panic!
15. Meanwhile, back at the panic at the gas mask distribution
Barbara ,   Haifa Israel   (08.29.13)
centers - if the citizens had only obtained their gas masks at normal peaceful times, then there would have been no panic. Actually government should have some gas mask distribution program that covers this in a civilized manner. Mine is at home waiting for use. No panic ! No fear ! Or how about - God will protect us.
16. 10
Zionist forever   (08.29.13)
Obama wants a minimalist military operation that's basically a show of strength to satisfy international pressure but he is no longer the idealist he was in 2008 and he knows the bigger the operation more the more expensive and politically unpopular it will be and the higher the risk of having another Iraq on his hands. The big problem Obama has though is he is not a strong president like Bush who knew how to take advantage of situations to get what he wanted. There are the countries who want to join his coalition because they have other motives and so may not want a simple putting on a show of strength. Erodogan is in alot of political trouble at home but if he can be a great wartime leader he might turn that around. The British and French both want to prove to the world their countries are still great powers. If it goes right it can also be great for their careers because a leader who can go to war and win the day has a much better chance of winning another election.
17. 2 million gas-masks short in stocks
Shachar ,   Eilat   (08.29.13)
That is why people are rushing to get the last gas-masks available. Nobody believes the gov't or intelligence assessments. When the sh*t hits the fan it's everyone to themselves. In 2006 we saw how well prepared the gov't is for defending the home-front.
18. 4 reasons to panic
Avi Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (08.29.13)
1. Last year, Ron Ben-Yishai wrote an article entitled "Obama better for Israel" in which he wrote "History has taught us that Republican administrations are less attentive to Israel's needs". In reality, relations with the current administration have never been so strained. Obama wouldn't even visit the Knesset during his last visit. 2. I have not forgotten the night of January 17, 1991. In the months leading up to the attack the government told us that there was little chance that Saddam Hussein be crazy enough to launch missiles at Israel. History repeats itself. Saddam gassed his own citizens and felt cornered by a US attack. When Saddam attacked, Bush kept Shamir on a leash as Obama will do to Bibi. 3. Currently, gas mask kits being distributed don't contain any antidote to nerve gas. Distribution centers just closed across the country several minutes ago. A government spokesperson said stations will reopen next week. And what about the 25 percent who have no gas masks at all? Pray that the attack doesn't happen Friday night. 4. Assad knows that his demise is inevitable - he has nothing to loose. Striking a hard blow at Israel on his way out will at least score him some "shahid" points, even if posthumously.
19. the Government needs to open MORE DISTRUBUTION CENTERS
Riva ,   israel   (08.30.13)
People are in panic because they have to wait hours at the very few centers! Even with the mail, people would feel better getting their gas masks at a local place! for Heaven sake, what is wrong with the government for not doing this!!!!
20. DISTRIBUTION OF GAS MASKS CHAOTIC
Anthony David Marks ,   Israel   (09.01.13)
Many ederly persons cannot stand hours in line to receive a gas mask so I guess they won't receive one due to the Home Front's inabilty to organize the distribution successfully. God help us.
21. A gas mask won’t protect you from a bomb.
Rich ,   Toronto, Canada   (09.01.13)
If you have the money, get out of Israel. The politicians are having a nice bomb shelter constructed for themselves, but nothing on that level for it’s citizens.
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