Looking at the Google Earth coordinates proves B. Michael right. It would be interesting to know if Olmert risked the lives of Israeli soldiers just to increase his own popularity.

It is pretty obvious since the beginning that the target of the IAF was not so secretive. In the context of very high tensions between Israel and Syria last summer, the response of Syria to an attack on one of its strategic sites would have been much harsher - probably even war. It is almost unthinkable that Olmert would have taken this risk, especially after the failed war against Hezbollah. But the media and amateur military analysts love that kind of stories. The main point is that people must be very careful not to take what these sources say as cash. By the way, what's that thing with the special forces? Israel clearly bombed an isolated site, of which they had numerous sattelite pictures. You don't need to laser tag the target with special forces in these circumstances. It would have been a ridiculously useless risk to take.

Google Earth pulls from a variety of commercial satellite sources, but they are not "real time". Are the images dated? They're not, so the absence of certain structures proves nothing because you don't know when they were taken. Military satellites like Ofek and their counterparts also provide more detailed info than the commercial variant because they're tasked with different missions. You haven't seen *those* pictures. Consider a counter perspective: Why - if it was a nothing structure - were most Arab leaders silent over such an Israeli action, but North Korea was notably vocal? Why, if it was a nothing structure, did Syria keep changing its story about what was struck, and why were they so eager to erase what was there? What intelligence was provided to an initially skeptical US that finally convinced them to give their blessing to this operation? Those who know aren't talking. Those, like B. Michael, who don't know, are just speculating.

Quite frankly... there are far too many unknowns to lean in any direction of what really happened. Between the growing unrest in the region and a planet that is in tough shape, I think there are bigger concerns that our governments should be addressing

though the writer has his own answers, questions are not answers. and, as for the apparent lack of security, it was not a reactor; it was a site under construction. and, let the genius who wrote the article consider why the north koreans had an opinion about the mission.

Hey why is the author of this "phenomanal article" denying that the Syrians are levelling down the stucture if nothing happened, If it was nothing special than all they had to do is immediately organising guided tours to visit the bombing that the "evil joows" had done to them.

I strongly advise to read this article and see for yourself:http://www.spacewar.com/pageone/spacewar-2007-10-25.html

The Americans asked Israel to test the Russian anti-aircraft missle systems in Syria to see if they could be successfully evaded, because those same systems are used to protect Iran's nuclear facilities. The test was successful. Now, America can go ahead with an attack on Iran, withour fear of being intercepted by Russian missles.

Easy to critisize, What is your solution? How come we ( Israel & USA) are always the bad guys? Ltos of targets in Syria. What is wrong with making a mistake & blowing up the other guys country? P.S. Move to Syria, you will be happier.

Well, why North Koreans protested immediately after the attack? Are they part of the spin? In the times of satellite coverage it isn't best way to hide your activity by putting fences and guards around buildings. You can monitor surroundings more subtle by technical means, like cameras or detectors... This article has no value, it uses very simplified arguments...

Maybe it wasn't a reactor. But it was obviously a target that was very embarrassing to the Syrians. Otherwise they would have made a big deal out of it and shown it to the world press

When I saw the title I was sure we will be faced with proof and irefutable evidence that something was wrong. Well, someting IS wrong. It seems that the author thinks that Google Earth is a source of updated information about nuclear programs and military deployment. Then maybe we should do without Ofek satellites or the US Spy sats - after all, everything is one Google-Earth, right? WRONG! The images on Google Earth have NO CLAIM or WARRANTY to their accuracy and over how recent they are. They are as reliable as Google can afford under the law (and under the $) and considering this and knowing a thing or two about GIS, I can guarantee that Google Earth cannot be used as a reliable intelligence or serious tactical planning tool - definitely not one to compete with, or generally dismiss military intelligence and alternative - infinitely more accurate tools. I am not claiming any claims regarding the IAF operation that maybe did or did not take place, but there is a quite HUGE gap between using Google Earth and the Internet as an information tool with questionable reliability and actually claiming that you can prove your claims based on that questionable information. Since WHEN do we believe everything that's on the Net? Yes, I did "dedicate a few moments of thought" to these "new" lame claims to fame and sensation and I quickly dismissed them as garbage. I see no difference between this article and the Al Jazeera ridiculous claims. Since WHEN is information available on the Net is so reliable as to use it as a proof and claim that there is a "scent of political-intelligence spin"? I do feel a scent however: the scent of reckelss and irresponsible "journalistic" amateurism that the Editor failed to catch before hitting us and insulting our intelligence. The scent of trying to build a sensation without ANY tangible proo or responsibility. THE SCENT OF TRYING TO DELEGITIMIZIE SIMILAR STEPS THAT ISRAEL MAY BE FORCED TO TAKE IN THE FUTURE. THIS is dangerous. THIS is reckless! THIS is NOT responsible and professional journalism and it should be rejected without remorse at its inception!

and Kurds die of indigestion? Not funny!

anyone who has read this moron's work knows that is exactly the point - Israel bad and so anyone anti-Israel must be good. It's obvious!! PS I ve been to Syria, somehow I doubt he would be happier.

a) didn't happen last summer it happened in September and by then the tension had wound down - the attack racheted it up. b) Syria has NEVER reacted to an attack on it's strategic sites since 1973. In 1982, Israel wiped out Syria's air defence system in Lebanon. Did Syria attack Israel? nope, they did the same as now - threats, noise, no action. c) So Olmert would take the risk for sending a few jets over Syria, tour most of Northern Syria, pass most of Northern Syria's strategic sites but not bomb anything - nope just "drop ammunition" - because that's not risky and doesnt upset the Syrians in the slightest - except that it was exactly the Syrians complaint. d) no laser targeting needed? You sure of that are you? Basically anyone with two brain cells to rub together can demolish your argument.

Frequented by many Arab leaders. Can't reveal the details on such a place, you know!

You guys should recognize this writing by now. I am surprised you didn't get it. This isn't really B. Michael This is none other than ATILLA KARAGOZOGLU

The Syrian government has said that this place was at LEAST 3 different things - nothing, an agriculture research station, a disused military base, etc. - and has taken pains NOT to show it to journalists or others until it had been completely removed. What WAS this place if it wasn't a nuclear site? Why is Syria so VERY worried about preserving its secrecy? Why not give press tours showing empty buildings? I don't buy random spin. I distrust official versions of things. But Syria's behavior shows that THIS place was special.

is that Israel has maintained staunch secrecy and ambiguity about this attack, ever since it took place. Israel was very late to admit it had actually done something in Syria, and even that statement said or hinted nothing about what happened. Thus all these exotic war stories are basically figments of the journalists' imaginations, spiced up with references to supposed-military-experts. Therefore, if this was indeed a spin (and so far B. Michael does not prove too well that it was) - then it was a rather MEDIA spin, and NOT a "political" spin. I'd never thought I'll say this - but Israel's politicians actually acted responsibly by shushing this operation instead of hyping it up.

basing your entire arguement on a google earth shot that is years old is poor journalism for sure.....

Who determined that this is the location of the destroyed facility? The building could be somewhere else in Syria.

Dear Mr. Michael: 1) the google images clearly show a paremeter around the site, which is tucked away in a wadi and out of view from ground level. 2) If the site was nothing as the article proposes, why have the Syrians refrained from allowing anyone to inspect the site in question? One would think they would rush to show the world that it was nothing. 3) Why has the Syrian story changed 3 times already? 1) the Israelis bombed the empty desert after being chased off by anti-aircraft defenses. 2) they bombed a civilian "desert research" facility. 3) They bombed an empty military facility. 4) Why have the Syrians rushed to clean out the site, as post-attack images show? These are just a few of the questions that somehow you failed to explore...hmmm.

journalism degree.

Michel's mouth clattering, his pathetic way of putting the whole operation on a two-pence journalist's table who, like other such Jazeeraistic scriblers, find legends and fairy stories where there are none. Google cannot be a reliable player in this. Full stop. On the other hand, if you cannot make up your minds whether Israel or USA devised and delivered this attack from beginning to end is so irrelevant and so none of your damn business that it can only make me think how ridiculous your tinkered article is.

What is absolutely clear is that a large contingent of North Korean experts were in Syria to supervise the use of the huge quantity of cement that had just arrived from North Korea.Why did Syria go half way around the world to acquire CEMENT!!!?what special properties does this cement possess?What danger does this special cement pose for the free world!!!!?

They were the first ones to protest the bombing. Otherwise why should they care?