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By Ron Bousso for AFP:
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Syria has positioned on its border with Israel thousands of medium and long-range rockets capable of striking major towns across northern Israel, military and government sources told AFP.
This deployment, coupled with other recent reports of Syrian troop mobilisation, is seen in Israel as an indication that Damascus may be preparing for future "low intensity warfare," they said.
What is described below begs the definition of "low intensity." Additionally, while supposedly applying lessons learned from last summer's conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria cannot rule out a high-intensity response by Israel to a "low intensity" lobbing of rockets. Nor can it, as a sovereign state, expect a similarly restrained reaction from Israel as was the case with Hizballah, which is not entirely one and the same with the Lebanese government. Then, this deployment of rockets seems either like a strategic miscalculation, or likely a piece of a larger puzzle, always with the suspicion of Iran pulling the puppet-strings.
The report comes only two weeks after Israel held war games on the occupied Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967, in a bid to learn the lessons of last summer's conflict in neighbouring south Lebanon.
The Syrian army accelerated its deployment of medium and long-range rockets in the wake of the Lebanon war, during which the Hezbollah militia fired moe than 4,000 rockets against northern Israel.
"We have noticed that in recent months Syria has deployed hundreds, possibly thousands, of medium and long-range rockets along the border (with Israel)," one military source said.
"Many of the rockets are hidden in underground chambers and in camouflaged silos, which make them very difficult to locate," the source said.
Three of the sources were from the military and two from the government, and they all spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. They said Syria has built a system of fortified underground tunnels along its border with Israel.
Most of the rockets deployed are 220 millimetre, with a range of 70 kilometres (43 miles), and 302 millimetre rockets capable of striking targets at a distance of more than 100 kilometres (56 miles).
The latter would be well within range of the main population centres in northern Israel such as Tiberias and Kiryat Shmona.
These long-range rockets could also reach Israel's third largest city of Haifa and its industrial zone, which is home to several essential industries, including oil refineries and a deep-water port.
It is also believed that Syria has deployed several FROG rocket launchers, with a a 550-kilogram (1,200-pound) warhead and 70-kilometre range, in areas between the border and the capital Damascus, 40 kilometres (25 miles) away.
According to the sources, such a massive deployment of well entrenched rockets poses "a real strategic threat" to Israel.
While Syria concentrates most of its long-range surface-to-surface missile arsenal in the north of the country, its decision to deploy rockets so close to the border may indicate that Syria is mulling an attack on Israel, experts say.
"Syrian President Bashar al-Assad realised after the Lebanon war that Israel was not as strong as it seems and that it could be threatened by simple means rather than an advanced army," the director of the Begin-Saadat Centre for Strategic Studies, Ephraim Inbar, told AFP.
Inbar, as well as the military sources, believe that "Assad could be preparing for low intensity war, a type of war of attrition with Israel, where Syria fires several rockets against Israel without provoking full-fledged war."
"Israel has absolute superiority in several fields in warfare," a senior government official said, referring mainly to Israel's advanced air force and "smart" weapons.
"So Syria is investing in fields where it can have an edge. It has invested in recent years in anti-aircraft weapons, rockets, missiles and bunkers. The war in Lebanon proved to the Syrians they were right to do so."
Posted by Marisol at March 9, 2007 9:28 PM
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The war in Lebanon showed that Israeli leadership were too weak to use the force necessary to destroy Hezbollah. They will not make the same mistake twice. Syria is mistaken if they pull on the tiger's tail again.
Posted by: geo11![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 9, 2007 9:37 PM
Syria miscalculated things once before-in 1973. Back then Israel bounced back and took care of Syria thanks to strong leadership. Nowadays, it's a bit more worrisome with the near useless (and spineless) Olmert government running the show. If Syria is crazy enough to attack I hope Israel's leadership will do what is necessary rather than what conforms to world opinion and see this conflict to a firm and decisive resolution.
Note to the organ grinder in Tehran-stay out of it or else Israel's "peaceful" nuclear program will be felt.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at March 9, 2007 9:57 PM
They must really admire the Jewish influenced Lebanese architecture
Posted by: KAOSKTRL at March 9, 2007 10:18 PM
its one thing for the hez boys to launch rockets, but an state doing this, syria is being foolish, and
damascus will be destroyed if they are bent on attacking Israel.
at March 9, 2007 10:26 PM
With their ability to resolve objects one meter or less in length, Israel's Eros B and Ofek 5 reconnaisance satellites should have been able to monitor the emplacement of Syria's missile systems. Here's hoping they have the payload capacity and national will needed for taking the fight to Syria when that time comes.
Posted by: Zenster at March 9, 2007 10:28 PM
"The burden against Damascus. Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap."
Isaiah 17:1
DO NOT bet against unfulfilled prophecy :)
Posted by: SoteriA at March 9, 2007 10:31 PM
I can't help but surmise that this move by Syria may be intended to discourage any attack on Iranian nuclear sites by Israel.
On the other hand, Israel may very well be able to deal with Hizbollah, Hamas, Syria, or Iran on individual terms, and what we may be witnessing here is a co-ordinated attempt to suck Israel into a first strike on Iranian nuke sites or these missiles in Syria, in order to launch all out war and fullfill the stated goal of wiping Israel off the map.
The recent discovery of the liquid explosives mill in Southern Lebanon is also disturbing as these devices have been reported to have the ability to be placed at their targets up to 4 months in advance.
Border skirmishes,kidnappings, disconnected suicide attacks and the like, may be finally giving way to a far more ominous threat. There is no doubt that should that scenario unfold, Israel will surely utilize all the tools in it's toolbox to survive. However, what will be left will be a far different landscape in that part of the world and could easily break the fragile alliances we have in the Gulf region and descend us into a MUCH broader war.
I hope I'm wrong.
Posted by: billyoblog at March 9, 2007 10:45 PM
I am having an especially hard time wrapping my mind around a particular thought in this article.
"Inbar, as well as the military sources, believe that "Assad could be preparing for low intensity war, a type of war of attrition with Israel, where Syria fires several rockets against Israel without provoking full-fledged war."
wouldn't the attacking with just one rocket be enough of a provocation to full fledged war?
If not why is that again?
If Isarel were to respond with "full fledged war",why would that be wrong again?
What am i missing?
We all know who will be to blame for the whole deal don't we?
If Israel doesn't restrain itself and take a beating then they will be at fault.
the "low level" war they speak of is really the "high level" jihad.
I suppose the King of Jordan was the messenger for this plan in his basic call for Israel to surrender and then everyone send palistine your money because they have been victimized enough.
That was the summary of his address to congress,after he kissed ellisons behind.
Heres another good one. How about China and Russia upset over the severity of sanctions against Iran due to the hardship it would bestow upon the Iranian people.
This is our problem why?
Perhaps then it would force Iran stop giving money to the murder movement.Most Iranians do not want thier money to go to hezbola or palistine.
The murder movement harms thousands upon thousands more innocent people than any sanctions we apply to Iran would.
Islam pays for the aggression against us and we pay the rest. Why does this continue?
Hugh said it " How hard would it be" to stop the aiding of this...foolishness. The way he framed that phrase,if we could hear him sing them in a song it would be the blues.The kind of music where you just hang your head and shake it and think man i just don't understand. How hard can it be.
Somewhere out there is someone who thinks we owe those people something and they couldn't be more wrong.We earned everything we have through blood sweat and tears.There are plenty in our midsts who have earned nothing and won't earn it in any future scenario as the present entities feed and breathe.
There should be no plans in our immediate future or any future to give them away,that is to say our freedoms.
To look into a patriots eyes is to see the ghosts of heroes.The reflections of the ones before the heroes to come.Heroes in a different form still vigilante these ghosts,these brothers ,fathers,mothers and sisters.
The more i listen watch and wait i see monsters of all sizes starting to rise.Some small in thier roar and some louder than any 'lion' could hope to roar.Braver day by day and more aware.Perhaps even a full fledged war on the murder movement or attrition or what ever political jargon applies to the situation.
And all that jazz.
at March 9, 2007 11:04 PM
My reason for going public with this is an attempt to somehow light a fire under the remaining Israeli Defense Forces on a policy paper of order of battle I wrote two weeks ago.
The Olmert Cabal has put the Israeli state in a position so vulnerable that 67 and 72 when the Jews almost lost those wars except for acts of God are going to look like summers in the park to what is set up now.
The statements of "Syria is about to employ limited warfare" as public statements shows a scenario Olmert is engaged in to actually be "forced" to vaporize Damascus. I do not make the assessment lightly. (For Americans picture Sec. Gates announcing today that Russia was going to engage in limited warfare against America. That is how insane of statement it is and drives the point home.)
In assessment in order of battle, it is a 90 percent possibility that Syria with Hezbollah, newly stationed al Qaeda units and Hamas can engage the Israeli state in conventional warfare and defeat them.
Here is how they have deployed to do it:
In the Lebanese fiasco, a new Russian anti tank weapon the Kornet and the RPG 29 Vampir literally chewed holes in the Israeli Merkava tanks which are the heaviest armoured in the world.
Hezbollah and Hamas in ground operations intend to pin down the IDF mech units with the main wire guided system along with basic blowing the bajesus out of Judea from within.
Operation part 2: Syria with heavy artillery and Scuds can literally wipe out the IDF airforce on the ground in such numbers that their American made jets will not be operational.
For all it's low tech, old artillery can still cross the t in wiping out areas. It is why North Korea has tons of the stuff pointed at the south. You can not stop an artillery barage.
No fighters mean no air cover which means no fighters to stop the advance of Syrian mech units.
Commando units will take the Golan and from that vantage the IDF tanks will not be able to turn and fight. There are finite travel routes and those which might move will be neutralized by the Kornets.
The Syrians made a tactical mistake off the Golan last time in "they thought the Jews would be there and the Jews were not so they did not advance".
In this order of battle Syrian mech units advance and in at 40 mph they roll over a smoking Tel Aviv and have tea at old Gush Katif in 3 hours.
The Israeli state can be defeated for the first time in it's history and the weaponry and units are in place to advance such an agenda from within and without.
This is why the European connection which is in league with Olmert is vital to see as they desire control over Jerusalem and the West Bank. They can not get rid of the Palestinians nor have a nuclear Iran and biological and chemical weapon armed Syria to challenge their minority rule.
This assesses the reasoning for Olmert allowing the sorry state of the IDF in the intended outcome is a "survival shot" which will mean the vaporization of Damascus, it's troops in the West Bank and if Iran can be lured into the fray with it's Shahab 2 systems their destruction by pulling the pin on IDF Jericho nuclear armed missiles.
The headlines are continuous in showing Syria believes it can strike and win which it can in conventional arms at present.
The IDF must act and somehow Netanyahu must pull the Conservatives together to stop this.
If this was only about Judea and Syria it would be horrid enough as it is designed to be that way to scare people to bring in a new order, but once WMD is let loose the Eurasians are going to be arming and moving to gain supremacy. They will use them on each other and the last thing the United States, Japan and the UK needs are Chicoms and Russian Bolsheviks with central Europeans tossing nukes at each other as they will not stop until they start tossing them at America.
The Conservatives, Likud and Judeans must stand up and take the Israeli state back now before it is too late for the world.
Posted by: Lame Cherry at March 9, 2007 11:05 PM
SoteriA,
It wouldn't be the first time for Demascus!
One has to love that "low-intensity warfare" zigger they threw out.
Posted by: We need G.C. Scott at March 9, 2007 11:15 PM
I don't like Ohlmert. I thought he was spineless and pathetic in the Lebanon War.
But I think Israel has done some things right after that war probably in spite of Ohlmert and not because of him. First, Shimon Peres, whatever his faults, knew that the military tactics used by the West weren't working. So new strategies and weapons have been developed. Just love the potential. The Star Wars Army. Hunter Killers just like the Terminator. (Except no bulging biceps) And the Heron seems like a real great weapon too.
I think the Heron could do a lot to mitigate the Syrian or Iranian missile threat, at least with respect to the larger missiles. I am thinking that the Viper might be real good at locating those hidden enemy bunkers and caves. Then there are the tanks with almost a force field to protect from RFGs. (Not discussed in the article below.)
From Arutz Sheva
Israel has developed the capabilities to engage in both air and land combat via remote control.
Israel’s Air Force received the Heron (Mahatz in Hebrew) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Thursday. The UAV is called the Shoval by the IAF and expands Israel’s capabilities greatly.
The Heron has a 50-foot wingspan, can fly at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet and carries a 550-pound payload. It can fly up to 30 hours without refueling and can be operated completely remotely. The large UAV can identify the launch sites of missiles as well as deliver air-to-surface missiles itself, eliminating targets as far away as Iran.
It will be phased in at the expense of the older Sarcher model.
The Heron is considered the most advanced UAV in the world and can carry the largest payload as well. Israel leads the UAV market and is currently producing several models on rush order for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Another Israeli defense company, Elbit Systems, has designed a new robot that can enter a combat zone, hurl grenades and shoot an automatic pistol at enemy forces.
Called the VIPeR, the robot is about the size of a small television. The machine moves on tread and is "undeterred by stairs, rubble, dark alleys caves or narrow tunnels," according to Elbit.
Elbit says the machine has bomb-detecting capabilities as well and greatly reduces the risk to soldiers in hand-to-hand combat situations such as those encountered in the war against Hizbullah
Posted by: DavidE at March 9, 2007 11:33 PM
Response to Lame Cherry!
I don't see the Syrians as massing. Did Hezbollah shoot down any IDF planes in the war? No. How good is artillery or rockets fired from 50 miles away at damaging Israel's planes. I think you totally misread the strategy.
I think the Arabs think that they can win a war by bunkering down and forcing the Israelis to advance. They will fire rockets and damage the Israeli economy. Basically, they can hit a large portion if not all of the country. The Syrians really don't have an economy to destroy. The building of the bunker complexes is designed for a war of attrition. Just keep on firing thousands of rockets and make the Israelis try to advance against the fortified bunkers. They are not going to try to mass as long as the Israelis have the smart missiles and planes that can hit them hard.
The terrain in Lebanon massively favored the defenders. (Similar to Italy in 1943 and 1944) Note that Maron al Rous is several hundred feet above the ground below. Basically, they built bunkers in the mountains.
What the Israelis have done is improve several weapons systems. First, they have upgraded the tanks with the trophy system. Second, they have massively invested in UAVs. The UAVs may be able to knock the Syrian missiles out at the launch points. The UAVs may be able to replace the fighter jets in doing reconissance. Third, they are developing robot technologies. The Hunter-Killer Viper could be very useful in a war of attrition.
I think you also misread history. In 1973 with a 5 to 1 advantage and better weapons (the latest Soviet weapons), the Syrians were driven back.
at March 9, 2007 11:53 PM
For the love of God get Netanyahu in there.
Posted by: Ibn_Iblis at March 9, 2007 11:57 PM
Wars are won by men, not rockets.
Muslims have been videotaped surrendering to remote control airplanes. Think about Masada. If two-thirds of Israel has become soft, that still leaves two million to resist. The rest will fall in line as things progress. The Israeli people have powerful friends.
Any nuclear device going off in Israel will kill more Muslims than Jews due to geography, prevailing winds, and fallout patterns. Enough to make one reflect on the chosen people theory.
at March 10, 2007 12:31 AM
SoteriA --
You are right, as Damascus has never been completely destroyed before in the past. In fact, this cities "Claim to Fame" is the fact that Damascus is the oldest city known to man!
This may be the beginning of the end for Damascus.
at March 10, 2007 12:40 AM
I have been forced to take a vow not to post comments. As my rage makes me go berserk. Nevertheless my heartfelt Prayers are always for ISRAEL and Jews. This is an effective way of channelling my anger I have discovered.
Any news about those diabolical cretins fills me with bone thinning weariness. Yawn..nnn..
Posted by: Crows&Cows at March 10, 2007 12:49 AM
"I have been forced to take a vow not to post comments"
Do you mind me asking by whom?
Posted by: champ at March 10, 2007 12:52 AM
Let me exit auspiciously. Click on the following link reposted by me and rereread what is written by Shoshi Shophrony, a Jewish Woman. Stay Tranquil and Confident. God is always on the side of the Jews, the Virtuous.
http://www.arunachala.org/NewsLetters/2004/nov_dec.pdf
Posted by: Crows&Cows at March 10, 2007 12:55 AM
http://www.arunachala.org/NewsLetters/2004/nov_dec.pdf
How Ramana Maharshi Came Into My Life by Shoshi Shophrony.
at March 10, 2007 12:56 AM
Crows,
Ok -- I thought perhaps you had promised your wife that you would lay off Jihad Watch. LOL!!
I support Israel as well, and thanks for providing the above information.
at March 10, 2007 1:12 AM
OT: The Rape of Europe, by Dolce & Gabbana:
http://sheikyermami.com/2007/03/10/the-fashinable-gang-rape/
at March 10, 2007 2:35 AM
I guess this manouver is with cooperation with Iran that Syrians are preparing possible attack on Israel in case Israel strikes Iran to stop them building WMD.
That part of the World is gonna turn into a great big smoking crater within the next two-three years. I can guess the Syrians don't know what they're messing with. Then again, the Muslims are like that, they ALWAYS underestimate their enemy by a large margin.
If I were a Syrian, I would tell my leads to back off before they turn us all into the greenhouse gas.
Bye bye Syria.
Posted by: MusHuntCowboy at March 10, 2007 3:10 AM
umm... is it just me? Doesn't this all sound like a pretext to Ezekiel 38? Clearly I must be imagining things.
Sorry to get all full on God on you and all that, but it does bear striking similarities. Russia with 'hooks in mouth' bearing down on Israel with Iran/Persia acting as the Ways and Means Committee. True, the Caliphate isn't established yet. Ethiopia is still marginally considered a 'Christian' nation, and secular Turkey isn't entirely convinced. However, judging by the swing in Thailand after the good general took power, I doubt it will take that long.
at March 10, 2007 3:22 AM
Isaiah 17:1 ....An oracle concerning Damascus:
"See, Damascus will no longer be a city
but will become a heap of ruins.
at March 10, 2007 3:24 AM
As Israel goes, so goes the Free World.
To any Israeli Jews out there who read this: We support you. I'm trying to talk my 18 yr old son, a Catholic, into enlisting for a tour with the IDF. That would be an honorable thing to do, and he wouldn't have to worry about standing for trumped up murder charges, like some of our young US Marines.
I say shalom to our best natural allies.
Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at March 10, 2007 5:00 AM
Israel has lots of new friends.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=8364
Posted by: apostate_islam at March 10, 2007 6:16 AM
"Assad could be preparing for low intensity war, a type of war of attrition with Israel, where Syria fires several rockets against Israel without provoking full-fledged war."
Israel will always have to endure this kind of random missile threat against its civilian population as long as Israel insists of playing the nice-guy chump of not making the same counter threat. Israel is supposed to fight by different enemy-favoring rules. Announced tit-for-tat is the only strategy: if you attack our civilian population at random, then we immediately attack your civilian population the same way (as well as your military & leadership, of course).
at March 10, 2007 10:26 AM
Imagine Hezbollah (who may have in excess of 12,000 newly delivered missiles in plain view of the useless UN Unifil troops)unleashing a fresh assault in to Israel, this would no doubt provoke a counter attack by Israel...As Soon as the Israelis begin to move their Armor to counter attack, the Syrians launch a barrage of missiles to take out the Israeli armor. Syria moves to seize the Golan Heights and Shebaa Farms. If the Golan Heights can be seized, Israel water suppy is drastically cut off...The Golan Heights are considered by Syria to be Syrian property, and Israel has never claimed the Golan Heights to be Israeli, Israel only maintains the Golan Heights to be under Israeli control...NOw while the fireworks are going, do not rule out Egypt, who has been conducting military exercises lately close to the Gaza area, suddenly a mass of Egyptian flood into the area...creating as much havoc as they can.....
And Lurking in the background is old man Ahmadinejad who has been constantly boasting about erasing Israel off the map....does he really have something up his sleeve, probably...
and to counter this senario are the three US carriers and the US Subs in the region, massive firepower indeed, few people realize there are also British, French, German, Japanese and other naval forces close by. All have recently been conducting "exercises."
A battle of global magnitude is shaping up and it appears old man Amadinehad will be the trigger man....HE has been recently conferring with Egypt,Syria,The Palistinians,the Jordanians and the Yemenies. All these appear to be very nervous...They know Islam could well become past history very fast.....
THis may sound like the conjecture of an arm chair quarterback..sometimes, arm chair quarterbacks have watched a lot of games...
The big game has already started and game ball is about to be kicked off...May the best team win...
at March 10, 2007 11:01 AM
Israil has placed strategic nuclear weapons along the syrian border..........
if the syrians attempt to enter the Golan Heights, they will be astonished at the nulcear flashes of death.
Israel will not surrender.......
Israel will use all of its weapons to survive........
The enemies of Israel will surround Israel and God will save Israel......the flesh of the enemies will burn off their bones and the eyes and tongues will burn out of their heads.....nukes going off around Israel.....killing Israels enemies....
1.3 billion mos can not defeat 15 million Jews.....
sobering isn't it............
Posted by: The Texican at March 10, 2007 1:19 PM
"All these appear to be very nervous...They know Islam could well become past history very fast....."
If there is conclusive evidence that ending Islam's threat will involve anything less than nuclear annihilation, I'd certainly like to see it. I take no joy in anticipating the deaths of some one billion people but where is it going to end? I refuse to even consider the notion of a global caliphate. With gun in hand, I will fight to the death against any Islamic takeover of the United States.
Islam just as steadfastly refuses to abandon its obsession with global domination. Whatever makes them so determined has left them equally blind to the basic fact that they are severely outgunned. Slow jihad will not and cannot survive the pace of confrontation set by continuing Islamic terrorist atrocities.
Consider this one fact. America has already spent the best part of ONE TRILLION dollars in its campaign against global terrorism. Our grandchildren will be paying off this massive debt. To date, we can claim only partial success in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, calculate the expense of subduing all the other Muslim majority nations. The cost is astronomical and simply prohibitive.
Absent Islam's voluntary abandonment of global jihad, the West will have no alternative but to exterminte this persistent threat. If I can perform this basic math over lunch, how has such a notion escaped America's leadership?
Like I said, none of this gives me any great joy, but Islam absolutely cannot be tolerated.
Posted by: Zenster at March 10, 2007 2:42 PM
I would think that if Egypt were to break their peace treaty with Istael. The US would have no choise but to reduce Egypt to something less than functioning as a Country.
If Syria shoots first. Israel will probably respond against all their Enemy's Bordering them. With the exception of Egypt. Israel will not want to be the one seen breaking the Treaty. But Israel will be ready if it occures.
What Unifil will do being in the Kill Zone is anyones guess.
at March 10, 2007 2:43 PM
Zenster -- I couldn't have put it better myself, "Islam absolutely cannot be tolerated".
Military action is the only logical choice, and I'm tired of playing around with these Muslim tricksters. Has Bush been Dhimmified? What is he waiting for?
Posted by: champ at March 10, 2007 3:22 PM
"Military action is the only logical choice, and I'm tired of playing around with these Muslim tricksters."
Glad we agree, champ. It never ceases to astound me how our leadership adamantly refuses to recognize what confronts us. A short list:
1.) Islam openly declared war against America over five years ago on 9-11-2001.
2.) Muslim colonists in America seek to violently overthrow our laws and government.
3.) Iran and other Islamic nations sponsor terror attacks and avow war against the USA.
4.) Muslims within our armed forces routinely betray America in the name of Islam.
5.) Islamic doctrine commands genocide against American and Israeli Jews.
6.) Islam actively recruits fanatics to kill our armed forces overseas.
What's wrong with this picture? How is it possible for anyone to ignore the implications of these basic facts?
"Has Bush been Dhimmified? What is he waiting for?"
As an American I must truly hope that Bush's deep connections with the House of Saud do not influence his decision making process. That said, it has become increasingly difficult to conclude otherwise. There is another potential influence that might explain a lot about Bush's almost congenital inability to condemn Islam. I've taken a lot of heat for this theory but I'll post it here anyway. I'd really appreciate any opinions on this.
Bush is a born-again Christian.
Bush places great emphasis upon religiosity.
While not extreme, he does practice a fundamentalist form of Christianity.
Fundamentalists are not as mainstream as Catholics.
Being less than mainstream inhibits any criticism of other fundamentalists by Bush.
Ergo: Bush's religiosity may induce reluctance to criticize any other forms of fundamentalism, including Islamic fundamentalism.
Aside from outright stupidity or blind allegiance to the Saudis, few other things can explain Bush's inability to label Islam as the enemy.
Others have said that we do not want to declare war on all one billion Muslims. Unfortunately, be it tacitly or overtly, we are obliged to consider all of Islam as having declared war upon America. Anything less compromises our security and ability to wage effective war. It is a principal reason why we are meeting with so little success in our battle against global terrorism. Why is this so hard for our politicians and militasry to wrap their minds around?
Posted by: Zenster at March 10, 2007 10:00 PM
Zenster --
Bush once referred to those who attacked us as 'evil', so I know he's got the right perspective about radical Islam. And we're currently at war in Iraq, so Bush isn't oppossed to war either.
But what I don't understand is why Bush has waited so long to do NOTHING about Iran -- AND -- why there are those who want us to "make nice" with terrorists through peace negotiations. There's no WAY they want peace, and we would be stupid to pursue such an end. They view negotiations merely as a time-out, time to regroup and catch us off guard so that they can achieve their objective: world domination.
Hard to say why Bush is waiting; and I don't know, maybe there's some great military plan-of-action just over the horizon. I certainly hope so. Thanks for replying.
Posted by: champ
at March 10, 2007 10:56 PM
P.S. Zenster --
I'm a Christian, and as you can see, I'm not oppossed to fighting Iran; so I don't think that Bush's faith is the problem. I really think it's something else. But what????
Could Russia be a factor?
Posted by: champ at March 10, 2007 11:04 PM
"I don't think that Bush's faith is the problem. I really think it's something else. But what????"
In the face of so few alternatives, I'm obliged to consider Bush's religiosity as a potential factor. The man just cannot bring himself to lay off "The Religion of Piece" and its endless supply of free Kool-Aid.
Bush simply has too much respect for all "religion", regardless of whether or not a given creed really qualifies as such. What other explanation is there?
The half-dozen points I posted above show that America is faced with an onslaught of historical proportions. Bush acts as if he is immune to the implications of these deeply distrubing facts. How he does this, I do not know. He has the intelligence to correctly identify "The Axis of Evil", then goes about agreeing to negotiations with Iran of all enemies. Go figure!
All that Iran should be getting from us is a thorough and repeated bombing.
Again, I'm glad we've reached some sort of understanding, champ. I just wonder if either of us has the right answer as to why Bush has so alarmingly dropped the ball. Iran should have been a heap of smoking rubble long ago.
Posted by: Zenster at March 11, 2007 3:33 AM
Zen -- what's important is the bottom line; that Bush has NOT produced results by leveling Iran, and God only knows what is going through his head and why he has dropped-the-ball by not dropping-the-bomb (poor joke). So I guess we can only speculate.
Oh yeah, we are definitely on the same page as far as taking military action against Iran. Not everyone here is, but I don't see any other choice at this point; and we are VERY late in an offensive strike as it is!
Looks like we will strike when struck. That's too bad, because we will be attacked again.
Posted by: champ at March 11, 2007 12:40 PM
....and probably by Iran.
Posted by: champ at March 11, 2007 12:41 PM
"Looks like we will strike when struck. That's too bad, because we will be attacked again.
....and probably by Iran."
Does anyone else see the incredible folly of this? Iran will not strike at America. They have no need to. Iran has spent decades, without any intervention, breeding up the most vicious terrorist organizations. Iran will strike by proxy. All the better for deniability.
A single nuclear attack upon American soil could set this country back decades. Beyond the tens or hundreds of thousands of deaths, there would be hundreds of billions if not over one trillion dollars of damage done to our already beleaguered economy. Waiting until we are struck first is like giving some gun-toting opponent a "free shot" at you before returning fire. This is the sort of "masochistic tolerance" Diana West writes about so well.
In his superb paper, "No Substitute for Victory", Dr. John Lewis concisely lays out why America already has the moral authority to militarily intervene in Iran. Our only obligation is to ourselves and it is an overwhelming one in the face of Iran's stated intent to do America serious harm.
That Bush or any other of America's politicians are willing to overlook this significant threat is tantamount to malfeasance of office. If there is a successful terrorist nuclear strike against America, that charge should become treason.
Any strike against Iran needs only be of the most basic kind. Afghanistan and Iraq must forever have taught us that the era of nation-building is over for all time. We must do a "drive-by" bombing of Iran in order to cripple their military, destroy all nuclear R&D and exterminate the mullahs who have vocally declared war against us. In short, break the bad boys' toys and then get the Hell out. All that should remain is our promise to rinse and repeat if we don't like what follows.
Failure to do this, especially if it results in Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, will be one of the worst strategic blunders in modern history.
Posted by: Zenster at March 11, 2007 4:37 PM
"What Unifil will do being in the Kill Zone is anyones guess."
My guess is, "bleeding all over it."
at March 11, 2007 4:38 PM
Even if the US or Israel took a Nuclear hit. I would not put it past the current Russian Leadership to retaliate on behalf of the Arabs if we respond.
China could even decide that now is the time to re-take Taiwan.
Any action in the Middle east would need to be swift and overwhelming Major infrastructure reduction. The daily necessity's of life will distract them from doing much else, other than realise what their thinking brings them.
The Islamists have no problem hitting our, or their other enemys Infrastructure. So there is little reason to consen ourselfs with responding in kind.
Posted by: flowerknife_us at March 11, 2007 6:42 PM
"Iran's stated intent to do America serious harm"....B I N G O!!
Even if Iran had someone else do the dirty work, therein lies the proof that they intend to do America harm: Ahmad's own DIRECT threats.
Posted by: champ at March 11, 2007 6:47 PM
But Iran has threatened us -- we aren't threatening them! It would not be "in kind" because we didn't start this fight -- they did.
Posted by: champ at March 11, 2007 6:54 PM
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