Opinion
Assad must not win
Shoula Romano Horing
Published: 17.06.13, 11:42
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
31 Talkbacks for this article
1. Assad and Al Quada must not win so whom must preside
Martin ,   SA   (06.17.13)
Both parites have agendas which are threatening to Israel. Whom must preside?
2. Assad must not win
Walid ,   Denia, Spain   (06.17.13)
Shoula Horing is completely right in her analysis. Obama and the Europeans have so far proven to be impotent in addressing the Syrian crisis and they lack the courage to do something effective. In the meantime, Iran and Hezbollah have the upper hand and if they manage to keep Assad in power, then this would mean the end of US influence in the Middle East and within few years Iran and Hezbollah will topple all the Sunni regimes in the area, especially those in the gulf. What this would mean for Israel is very obvious. It will sooner or later cease to exist.
3. another perspective
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (06.17.13)
Horing says "if Assad wins, the US will lose the remainder of its credibility...in the Middle East". Others see it differently. The Arab Spring was never about liberty, but about Jihad and "purifying" the Middle East of Kafir as defined by the Wahabbis: seculars, non-Muslims, non-Arabs. Wahabbi Jihad's most powerful weapon has been US, UK and French armed forces. After seeing how Obama destroyed Gadaffi and Mubarak for Jihad, Putin had no choice but draw the line in Syria. If Obama manages to replace Assad, Syria and Lebanon will be ethnically cleansed of Christians, Druze, Shia and Alawi and the next victims will be Orthodox Christians in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Armenia and former Yugoslavia, Christians that Putin wants to protect. So the war in Syria will not end soon, the stakes are too high. Imperialistic Wahabbi Jihad supported by Obama trying to make a homogenous Caliphate against a desperate coalition of native minorities supported by Putin. Who would have thought?
4. #3 is absolutely correct.
David ,   Hartford USA   (06.17.13)
Putin is a much smarter man than Obama. Let him have his way. He's protecting Christian Europe. Israel will always be able to protect itself. And I'm sure Putin has told Assad that Israel is off limits. No support for the organ-eating rebels. They've proven that their leadership ability comes from the blade of a knife,
5. Right on point
Fred ,   Youngstown, OH   (06.17.13)
As usual the leftist Obama is weak and unable or unwilling to protect the interests of the US and its ally Israel Obama's weakness has made an already dangerous place all the more so. Our President's bow down kiss your behind approach to these Arab thugs does not bode well for the US or Israel
6. Eternal war
John ,   Israel   (06.17.13)
So the author of this piece is calling for eternal warfare is Syria. Israelis need to take a long hard look at what their society has become when the suffering of millions is considered a reasonable policy.
7. Let this "family feud" last as long as possible, amen!
tom ,   tel aviv   (06.17.13)
8. Childish and Amateurish Analysis
Abdel Karim Salim ,   Jerusalem   (06.17.13)
America has no credibility from the very beginning and everybody already knows that ; the US abandoned South Vietnam in 1975 and the Shah of Iran in 1979 . Furthermore, the Gulf states would never become clients of Russia because of oil and trade relations with the West . And to us in general there is no Sunni or Shi'ite or Salafist simply because all are equal citizens before the law, and such terminology is only the fabrication of western imperialism and their subservient tools like Qatar and Saudi Arabia...
9. Obama is too little too late - Hurry!!!
Zipi ,   Tel Aviv. Israel   (06.17.13)
Obama waited two years to try to give weapons to the rebels. Meantime as Horing said, Iran and Hizballah are fighting and supplying weapons to the Assad governemnt. US must give them, not light arms to rebels ; BUt Heavy weapons ; otherwise Iran will control Lebanon and Syria and what is next?
10. LMAO!!!
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (06.17.13)
What a stupid piece. It starts with a fantasy and continues. "US will lose remainder of its credibility, deterrence power in the Middle East" Can't lose what doesn't exist. The US has no credibility or deterrence power in the world. Odumba has seen to that. What needs to happen is let the Arabs alone to continue being Arabs.
11. assad is winning
Hy   (06.17.13)
beyond the desire to maintain his imperial rule, assad is fighting for the existence of the alawites and has been tenacious. Unlike olmert, livni, and peres, assad has held on like a tiger whereas the other 3 ran like chickens when the going got rough. In fact the arab world can take comfort in the fact there are still so many cowards in jewish society, outright cowards as reflected fully in haaretz. Assad will prevail short of putin being thrown out of power and there goes the prediction of barak whose judgement belongs in the garbage whether on peace or anything else.
12. A win for Assad is a defeat for Israel
Mark Jeffery Koch ,   Cherry Hill, NJ USA   (06.17.13)
A win for Assad is a win for Hezbollah and Iran and will empower them to a degree never before seen possible. If there is a Sunni Shiite conflict Israel's best friend (and only friend) in the Arab world, Jordan, may see the Hashemite regime overthrown. Anyone who gleefully comments "let the Arabs kill each other" has no clue as to the instability that could result that would envelop Israel in a region wide war. Not all the rebels are Jihadists and Obama's sitting on the sideline for so long helped ensure that a lot of them unfortunately are. Replacing Assad means cutting Hezbollah off from their Iranian supplied weapons and does not give Iran a beachhead to Israel, and if America or Israel must attack Iran's nuclear facilities it is much better to do that with an Iran that no longer has any friend in the Arab world. Leaving Assad in power is a victory for Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, and that is not a victory for peace and stability. I understand Obama's reluctance to get into another war in the Middle East. We went to war with Iraq for no reason and lost 5,000 men with more than 45,000 badly wounded. However, one bad mistake should not make America allow a far worse scenario to ensue and if the dictators Assad, Khameini, Nasrallah, and Putin are allowed to rule the day peace and stability will be set back for a generation and the costs to Israel will be huge. If America has the chance to weaken Hezbollah and Iran without any loss of life on the American side and refuses to take advantage of it then America is a paper tiger and no longer a superpower. I fear that Obama is weak and that he will also make a deal with the new President of Iran, Rohani. The only difference between Ahmadinejad and Rohani is that Ahmadinejad openly spoke about his hatred for Israel and the Jewish people and his denial of the Holocaust while Rohani keeps silent but agrees with everything Ahmadinejad has said and expressed. Obama is weak and if Assad wins, Iran wins, Hezbollah wins, and Russia wins and that is very bad for both Israel and America.
13. brilliant strategy: keep the Syrian civil war go on forever
Mark B. ,   Amsterdam-Holland   (06.17.13)
Not to mention the moral and ethical implications of such a policy. There is a better way for the US to remain and even strenghten their credibility and deterrence in the ME. Help remove Assad, support a Sunni government and force Israel to give back the Golan in exchange for peace with Syria.
14. Partition now! The 3-state solution
Mark ,   London, UK   (06.17.13)
Why is the world intent on keeping Syria as a unitary state while demanding the further partition of Israel? I think Syria should break up into a Christian state, an Alawite/Shia state and a Sunni state. I accept this won't be popular but for good measure I'd chuck in an independent Palestinian state as I am sure they'd like to have another one. A more realistic scenario, however, would be autonomy in the Sunni state though they might take a few generations to come to the negotiating table, or better still wait it's too late and demand a change to the status quo. The Christian state already exists and it's called Lebanon, the Alawites can have their statelet on the coast to the north of Lebanon. I'd chuck in a few land swaps so the Shiites can join up with their Alawite friends. Sadly the Kurds can't have their own state because Turkey won't allow it, but they could be autonomous as in Iraq. The Sunni's could have further autonomous regions for islamists, salafists and any other "-ist" they can invent. Damascus and Aleppo can each be a corpus separatum. Since vast numbers of the population are already refugees/displaced and their old homes destroyed they can move to their allocated ethnic/tribal areas or, at a pinch, accept minority status where ever they choose. I guess Druze can stay where they are as they seem to fit in with every regime. When we have a stable model of partition into ever smaller states the world can turn its attention to replicating in Israel.....but not before!
15. to Israel Israeli
marian ,   Romania   (06.17.13)
and I would complete the list with the fulfilment by USA and NATO of Hitler's program against Yugoslavia, using Wahabbi Jihad in the 1990' s.
16. American "credibility" Already an oxymoron.
David Turner ,   Richmond, USA   (06.17.13)
Bush avoids conflict with Iran since the invasion and removal of Khameini's only barrier to Arabia. Then uses any excuse not to follow-up threats with action against nuclear program. Obama turns on Mubarak as Carter did the shah (another gift to the ayatollahs: what's wrong with this "stategic" picture?). Follows Bush lead and replaces action with bluster (all options on the table; don't cross my "red lines"). Credibility? Only credibility is in America's willingness to retreat and provide Russia the playing field (and, uncontested, the soft underbelly to Europe with Russia's developing Mediterranean fleet, and Russian tanks to the north).
17. # 6; if Syria wins- genocide of Sunnis
Ari ,   New Orleans, LA   (06.17.13)
The author is smart enough to understand that no matter what Israel will do or say , the Arabs will continue killing each other. She recommends to supply arms to the Sunnis since otherwise the Shiits will commit Genocide on the Sunnis. Don't blame Israelis for the fact that the Arabs are killing each other. If they are not preoccupied killing each other , they all will attempt to commit a Genocide on the JEWS. Israel does not have a dog in this fight.
18. Abdul Karim #8, "equal citizens before the law"
Jake   (06.17.13)
And which law is that? 1. The law of the jungle. 2. The martial law of the Baath regime. 3. Sha'ariah law. It's your choice.
19. To no.6
Harry ,   Pensacola,FL   (06.18.13)
Move out of dreamland and embrace reality. The high moral plane you claim to be on is not present in either side of The Syrian Civil War or the Arab World in general. Since you say you are in Israel I assume you are Jewish. You are a naive fool if you believe that this people want anything other than your destruction and that of your country. These people will kill anyway. Let the barbarians destroy each other and leave us alone
20. Mark #14 you forgot a group
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (06.18.13)
Nearly 25% of the population is Kurdish and they are hated by the other 3. They too deserve the North-East
21. no!
Halil ,   Ramalla, plastiene   (06.18.13)
Israel should not intervene in the war in Syria. Both sides hate the West, let them kill each other until the final.
22. Immoral AND dumb
Daniel   (06.18.13)
Exactly what one expects from Shoula Horing. Apart from the appalling cost in human life the longer the conflict goes on, Syria is a training ground for Al Qaeda. The longer the fighting goes on, the more experienced Al Qaeda groups become in smuggling, irregular warfare, and bomb-making. Does Shoula Horing think all these newly-trained Al Qaeda are going to stay in Syria? Did they stay in Afghanistan? Stick to what you know, Shoula, demanding American jews put Israel ahead of America and being a shrill racist.
23. If the US has no credibility, who does?
TaylorT ,   Earth   (06.18.13)
Russia who abandoned Iraq and Libya? China which has no ability whatsoever to project itself militarily in the ME? The British and the French? HA! This 'lacks credibility' argument is for children like Gee who buy any narrative that bolsters their bigoted view of the world. This author of this article is just another Israeli begging America to do Israel's dirty work for it. To this end, she uses dubious 'facts' like saying the French, British and UN have "confirmed" chemical weapon use by Assad (which is certainly not the case. There is much circumstantial evidence, but NO ONE has confirmed anything.) The bottom line is whatever happens in Syria is not the US's concern. By trying to stay out of the conflict, Obama is perfectly following US's interests. The only credibility the US needs is that which furthers its own geopolitical goals (keeping oil flowing and trade robust.) Thus, getting involved in the Syrian civil war is foolish. It's too bad Obama has listened to war-mongering Israelis and is getting sucked into it. Immoral Israelis like those who commented on this article want nothing more than continue seeing Syrian civilians die in this conflict. They have a very short-sighted view (as is common with those from an immature nation) and don't realise that Arabs have a long memory and will never forget all the Israelis who did nothing but stoke the fire in Syria. The bottom line: immature Israelis trying to get daddy US to do their dirty work and throwing when not getting their way.
24. To no22
Seth ,   MCALLEN, TX   (06.18.13)
Spare me the the pathetic leftist name calling and self righteousness. Of course a rebel victory in Syria would make AL-Queda stronger which is obviously dangerous to Israel and the author agrees. On the other hand an Assad victory makes Iran and Hezbollah stronger and is also obviously dangerous to Israel and the author agrees again, Did you even read the article or just have a leftist knee jerk reaction to it. The point of the article is that Israel exists in a horrible neighborhood and has no great options with its barbaric neighbors. Let its enemies who want to destroy it kill each other for as long as possible. Your pathetic high moral plane should be directed toward civilization not barbarism
25. #24 dimwit
Daniel   (06.18.13)
The longer the conflict goes on, the more recruits Al Qaeda gains and the more in-field training they receive. You armchair generals think you can confine Al Qaeda to Syria, you are wrong.
26. To no 25
Seth ,   MCALLEN, TX   (06.19.13)
True, but not even remotely responsive to my comment or the article. Liberalism at work again
27. The United States is on the verge of being independant
Steven Wilson ,   Anchorage, Alaska   (06.19.13)
of foreign oil. Why should we help any of these religious nut jobs in their genocide of one another? Obama is whining and ranting about gun control in the United States....while arming a bunch of religious nuts with weapons to slaughter themselves with. Lets be realistic...we lost 20 kids from a nut running around and shooting at school children. It was the end of the world for Obama and the Democratic Party. Now Obama wants to arm up a bunch of nuts bent on religious genocide of each others religions? Maybe we aren't seeing the Hypocrisy here? The worst part of this situation is Obama helped push for this little killing field in his foreign policy in the first place. He pushed for new Governments in LIbya...Egypt...Tunisia...Syria ...and so forth and so on. Like he really believed there wasn't going to be a bloodbath?
28. who should win??
kapriza ,   tsafon   (06.19.13)
The US could publicly declare a change of mind based on the fact that the "rebels" that they had supported are no long Syrian civilians fighting to oust their dictator, but rather a motley bunch of jihadist mercenaries who have hijacked their cause. That is definitely grounds for changing the rules of the game."The devil you know is better than the devil that you don't know."
29. #28; NO one should win; only killing each others
Avi ,   Miami, Florida   (06.19.13)
This is the point of the article; Let continue fighting and that no one will win. Not the iranians and not the Sunnis jihadists; they are all bad and destructive; Let the blood bath continues.
30. re Assad must not win
paul lloyd ,   England   (06.27.13)
ok i can see your points very well written,articulate,that is all presupposing a military victory,there is it seems another essay to be written,the one where the result is a negoicated peace deal,where a victory for either side is achieved by the ballot box,this would not harm USA credibility,but would involve some radical thinking to see Assad not as a dictator,in the Saddam/Gaddaffi sense,as a former UK Ambassador said last week,remember Assad wished to turn Syria into the Switzaland of the Arabic nations when he first took control,and maybe just as much a victim of some in his government set up,as anyone else,but was powerless to influence them,then,someone close to him recently said,it is regretable they didnt impliment any intended reforms fast or boldly enough at the start>i have seen the very long and detailed reform documents issued by Assad,also,would it not help relations if a brokered deal to allow a peaceful,transition to take place,thus sparing lives lost,on both sides,on the Hezzbullah side too,because,now as thing are they have the upper hand militarily,and have/are staking a lot on their involvement,in reputaion,honour,and yes sacrifice,.that said,if they expirence a massive reversal and massive devestating defeat,and humiliation,leaving many widows behind,as could happen if/when/should the USA and Her allies choose to bring devastating force to bear on the situation,either in absolute military terms,or via proxies,thus undoing all the effort and sacrifice given to combating fanatical groups,.which ever way things turn out for them they just may well remember,why cant syria lebonan jordan egypt donate land to Israel and palastine,as a way to find peace,they invaded in 1948,then 1976? to help create the sonario we have today,let them be part give something towards the two state solution,then everyone can be friends again>..
Next talkbacks
Back to article