A breath of fresh air

Those sick of playing defense derived pleasure from reports of an Israeli air strike on Syria. It's not out of love for Israel that some in Lebanon breathed a sigh of relief, but mostly because, and even though we don't really know what was hit, Bashar and his co-rulers will now have a "big hole in the desert" to bury themselves in when their time finally comes.

Citing anonymous Israeli sources, an Arab Israeli newspaper, the Assennara, said on Wednesday that the jets "bombed in northern Syria a Syrian-Iranian missile base financed by Iran.... It appears that the base was completely destroyed."

The previous day CNN reported that the strike, which could also have involved the use of ground forces, was believed to have targeted weapons either coming into Syria or moving through Syria from Iran to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, Lebanon's Shiite militia that Israel fought in a war last year.

The New York Times also reported on Wednesday that Israel thinks Syria and Iran are buying nuclear material from North Korea and had recently carried out reconnaissance flights over Syria, taking pictures of possible nuclear installations.

A US administration official said Israeli officials believe that North Korea might be unloading some of its nuclear material on Syria, the newspaper said. (AFP)

Efforts should now focus on providing the Assad Bunch with a fast track to oblivion. The mass murderers thought they could transform their country into an Iranian military base, and turn Lebanon into a forward post to wage existential battles.  They may have acquired chemical weapons and given their buddy the divine excrement a head or two to call a "surprise", and they may even be sitting on North Korean nukes. But I am willing to bet that when push comes to shove, we can all sit back and watch them run for the nearest hole.

March 14 had better watch and act in this context. The rules of the game can quickly change, and those who never played fair should not be rewarded with fair play. If Hizbullah wishes to form its own state, then by all means let them try. The sooner they try it, the faster Iran's project will disintegrate. The longer we wait for the likes of Berri and Aoun to come to their senses, the more difficult it will be to call the big bluff.

So in the name of resistance and getting even, may it rain fire over those who thought they could use us as their shield. May Lebanon and its free people play this one right.

Comments

[Shunkleash]

Well said AK, but I suppose your caveat at the end just reinforces the disgusting position we face on the ground. In any event I too will CRY OUT-->May Lebanon and its free people play this one right!!! I will also add my own caveat...may those who have been bought or are negotiating there retirements in paris and beyond rot in hell.

As an aside, I have always felt that Syria, as well as Bashar and his cronies, for all the bravado displayed, would nevertheless succumb to the one current that continuously runs beneath the entire bath arabist nationalist system. That "current" is---->utter stupidity! They have already taken the path and Israel has shown them the light...yalla, may they all walk through it

Ayesh Lubnan

[Jeha]

We're still a long way to Tipperary, and I am not sure whether this approach will solve anything on the long run.

Regardless of my apprehensions, it appears this is just what is shaping up. The jets were only the visible face of the whole thing, and other actions are happening in the background. It appears there are coordinate effort to put pressure back on the backers of Hezb, on the eve of the election. Recall that there were a few explosions in some sites in Syria, apparently due to a side effect of "global warming".

[another_someone]

So, given this information about the Israeli military operation against Syrian targets, will the Lebanese HA, on orders from the Syrian regime, retaliate?

I would be very concerned, and I have not seen this question raised yet.

[e]

What stands out and is somewhat suprising to me is how isolated Syria has become. Not one European government condemed Israel. If the Syrians thought they were protected from premption by "public opinion", they will have to think again.

Also, it seems that the Syrian (therefore also Iranian) air defense systems are uselss against Israeli/US technology. This very much weakens Syria/Iran in any future negotiation.

In addition the fact that the Syrians have not used their favorite proxies to retaliate, shows that HA are not in a great position. It is up to March 14 now to show some balls and elect a president.

[Amir in Tel Aviv]

Wish you guys, a Happy (Jewish) New Year..!!!
May the year 5768 התשס"ח will be a year of happiness and good health to you and to your families.
Shana Tova..!!
.

[JoseyWales]

Good post AK,

But of course M14 is busy solving Pakistan's problems (Saad) and calling Syrians "brothers" (Fufu).

As an aside, given that Syria has land occupied by Israel way larger than Shebaa, and given that the Israeli air force gets to buzz Bashar and fly over Syrian territory with nary a peep from the glorious valiant and heroic Arab Syrian effing army, isn't it time for a para-military independent resistance group to be formed in Syria?

Should the Lebanese gvmnt support such a group and smuggle arms to it?

I am ready with my checkbook and I already have a name: Baathallah.

[ghassan karam]

Ali BM,

"He (Minister Aridi)was referring to Hizbullah strongholds in south Beirut and south Lebanon which are generally off limits to Lebanese security forces."

Would you care to respond to the above allegation by Naharnet and others. If there is any truth to the above then many areas in Lebanon need to be liberated.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ali BM cannot reply right now. He is otherwise engaged fighting the Zionist conspiracy somewhere in the Iraqi desert...

In all seriousness: Good post, AK. However you hit upon a great point: How will March 14 react to this new situation on the ground. I don't have much faith. Much like Josey Wales, I see M14 wasting opportunity after opportunity to make a truly LEBANESE stand, and rising above the "arab cause" and "Syrian brothers" and "Palestinian brothers" claptrap.
It was pointed out, quite astutely, that Syria is completely isolated. Not one European nation has rebuked Israel, as they might have done in years past. These same countries have given their full support to M14, both openly, and in more subtle ways. What more do Saad, Saniora and company need? Why are they still busy accepting fake "initiatives" and coddling the opposition in any kind of way? As you put it in the post, those who don't play fair should not be rewarded with fairplay. Yet M14 refuses to take the gloves off. What gives?

[Charlie]

Well the upshot is that Assad has his chance now to show all these “half men” in the Arab world how real men like him engage and fight the enemy. Or perhaps he is so generous that he will end up handing such a glorious task to his buddies in Hamas and Hizbo. Come on Assad step up, don’t delegate and show us that your Baath regime has more in it than thugs and assassins!

[Bad Vilbel]

I have a feeling Bashar will not be retaliating for this one, either directly or by proxy.

[ghassan karam]

Charlie,
What is even more ironic than the "impotence" of he who accuses others of being "half men" is the total silence of HA regarding this matter. Can you just imagine what the response of HA would have been had the Israeli Air Force attacked a Lebanese installation? They would have been screaming and would have fired some of their missiles into Israel in order to teach these Zionists a lesson. What duplicity and to know that they represent such a large segment of the population speaks volumes about the state of our society. Syria, that great protector of the Arab world was so embarrassed by the Israeli raid that they did not even want to reveal that it took place.

[ghassan karam]

I neglected to mention in the previous post that one must always give credit where credit is due. I have been one of the readers who has consistently taken the cabinet to task for not acting and not taking a stand. I take my hat to them for having finally shown some spine by announcing today that the government has already taken down the HA telecom illegal cable in Beirut and that they intend to do the same all across the country. I sincerely hope that this is only an indication of things to come. It is weired when there is a need to congratulate someone for finally doing what they were hired to do!!! But it is better late than never.

[Charlie]

Ghassan,

No kidding, they will be speaking of rights to self defense, divinity and how they will sacrifice every last Lebanese if they need be. And if that is not enough, then few bearded dudes will start with their hot rhetoric and the sheeple will respond with loud chants of some sort with fists pumping in the air. Bunch of hypocrites to say the least. I am truly amazed to how people have not woken up to this BS and stepped away from these fools.

All these people who lost their villages and homes while cheering for the “Sayed”,
need to wake up and smell the coffee, look to the east and see how brave the Syrians are!! Not even one Syrian fighter was sent up to intercept the Israeli fighters.

[Vox P.]

It's too early to say if Syria is going to retaliate. If there is a retaliation, it will come in the next few weeks. But Syria is definitely isolated now and this is an encouraging thought.

[Superdude]

Anyone remembers this?

Strike on Syria sparks crisis talks (2003)

No matter what, Syria will fail when it confronts Israel; the only problem is that Israel is not willing to pay the price of a full confrontation (understandably), and the international community will find a way to contain the crisis.

Israel should have continued to do what it started in 2003, 'Operation cleaning the den'.

As for the latest Lebanese 'tabkha', or stew, it just shows that Lebanon did not change for the past 100 years, it just evolved, like it should, with the rest of the world, instead of maturing. Or maybe it is maturing at a slower pace than the tightening noose show we saw months earlier, which explains all the stupidity.

I would argue, the 'tabkha' is no different than previous ones on the same menu. The younger generation thinks it is sour, and want to kick the chef in the ass, while the veterans seem to find it a bit more spicy at the initial taste, but then they sense the familiar stench they are used to.

Honestly, I believe the people deserve what they have. It is a reflection of their collective dynamic, which sums up to indifference due to their inability to take charge of their fate (actually thinking for yourself), and their solid believe that the current winds are their destiny (letting incompetent leaders think for you).

P.S. I am of the opinion that people are dismissing HA retaliation much too soon. I give it one week. Also is the bearded one keeping a low profile or what?

P.P.S. Shunkleash I owe you 2 beers (if you drink) for making me laugh every time I read one of your posts. Oh and some Shunkleash as well.

Damn all this thinking has made me hungry...

Peace.

[fubar]

You guys are having way to much fun today...

(JPost) Advisors to Syrian President Bashar Assad are pressuring him to respond to the alleged IAF attack by "landing a blow to an Israeli target," the Kuwait-based Al-Jareeda reported Wednesday. According to the report, Israel targeted long-range missile batteries that were brought to Syria from Iran. The report said five IAF fighter jets carried out the attack.

Israel Radio quoted the Kuwaiti paper to the effect that the group advocating a military response is being spearheaded by Assad's brother in law, who has met in recent days with senior Hizbullah and Hamas officials in an effort to draw up an operation plan.

The Kuwaiti paper also reported that the Syrian army has begun drafting reservists from the armed corps, missile corps and anti-aircraft units, and quoted "sources in the know" who said the draft was a response to Israel raising its level of readiness in the north.

Meanwhile, Syria's UN Ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, denied the reports on Wednesday, claiming the Israeli jets escaped without hitting their target, Israel Radio reported.

*********

Tehran, 12 Sept. (AKI) - Doubts over Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki's future deepened Wednesday after a conservative daily linked to the country's supreme leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, published a fresh report claiming he is to step down.

Mottaki who on Wednesday was in Moscow for talks with Russian nuclear officials, is rumoured to have fallen out with Iran's hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

On Tuesday Adnkronos International (AKI) reported on a claim made by a pro-government website that Mottaki's departure was "imminent".

Diplomatic sources told AKI that if Mottaki left the cabinet it would probably happen before Ahmandinejad leaves for New York where he is set to speak before the UN General Assembly.

Mottaki's eventual departure would bring to eight the number of cabinet ministers to exit Ahmadinejad's government since it was formed in August 2006.

***********

Teheran, 11 Sept. (AKI) - Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki is on the verge of resigning, an Internet site close to the government reported Tuesday.

A fall-out with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmandinejad is the reason for the foreign minister's "imminent" departure, the Farda news website said in its report.

The report did not give any details about the disagreement between the two men.

***********

And then did you know...

Tehran, 11 Sept. (AKI) - Iran has begun the construction of a wall along the border with war-torn Iraq, to prevent militants of the Kurdistan's Workers Party (PKK) out of the country.

According to government sources in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, work on the first four kilometre long section of the wall are underway in the area of the Haj Omran border crossing, near the Qandil mountains.

The area is just six-kilometres from where US-troops stationed in Iraq are building a new military base.

The Pentagon has also announced the construction of armoured military checkpoints, on all roads that lead from Iran to Iraq.

The US military says the checkpoints aim to help curb the flow of weapons from Iran and destined for Iraqi insurgents.

************

Putin's dissolves his cabinet, Ahmadinejad is losing cabinet ministers even faster than M14, and now it appears that no country in the world can live without a security/separation fence/wall.

A beer to anyone who can weave all the stories on this thread into an arguably convincing conspiracy theory. All entries without Israel as the evil puppetmaster will, of course, be disqualified - Arab/Persian rules strictly enforced.

[tarboush]

As to the question of not having the FouFou M14 act more forcefully etc... One reason that I can think of is to avoid a civil war, by not pushing too too hard to have one started. I believe that the fou fou thinking is to get to the end of the race without much bloodshed, which I think is smart but requires lots of patience. Remember who has the weapons on the scene in lebanon, and you can't change that overnight.

As they say, patience is a virtue.

Now this strike on Syria! I think it's nothing but a psych warfare on the part of Israel. It's multiple messages from Israel/US with a nod/wink from the EU. Messages to Syria/Iran & HA that we can disrupt your plans etc. The biggest part of the message is to Syria, that if you do open a front on the Golan and try to emulate HA's 06 war we can get you from behind or anywhere in Syria. Also, Syria pls review your alliance with Iran will you! Iran won't be able to come to your aid on such a short short notice etc.

It's all psych messages to induce certain desired behavior or actions.

Just my 2 cents.

[Hazbani]

Tarbush with all due respect. No body knows what realy happened. For example Syria have not presented any physical fact, which they say they have, why? Half the media people in the world would have been there to see and photo the spent ammo. what is going on? where is the body? The only real thing is from Turkey. where are the tanks from Syria. By the way are you sure that the Syrian president knows all the facts known to all kinds of official Syrians? Strange very strange.About psych war. Israel would not have sent a human piloted kite on a psych war mission. 1) As of last war those in Israel who forgot now remember: "you know how you get into a war you never know how you get out". 2) Planes fall for all kinds of reasons, even hitting a bird, just think about an Israeli pilot, alive or dead paraded in Damascus and what this have done to Israel, to the Israeli government and if you understandbly dont give a..... about Israel, what it would have done to your Elections.
There was a real reason for this episode and up to this very moment so little is known. Just think that some of the WMD looked for so eagerly in Iraq were hidden away in the Syrian desert. The whole thing should not be taken lightly at all.
Any how as was said A good new year to all.

[Hazbani]

Tarbush with all due respect. No body knows what realy happened. For example Syria have not presented any physical fact, which they say they have, why? Half the media people in the world would have been there to see and photo the spent ammo. what is going on? where is the body? The only real thing is from Turkey. where are the tanks from Syria. By the way are you sure that the Syrian president knows all the facts known to all kinds of official Syrians? Strange very strange.About psych war. Israel would not have sent a human piloted kite on a psych war mission. 1) As of last war those in Israel who forgot now remember: "you know how you get into a war you never know how you get out". 2) Planes fall for all kinds of reasons, even hitting a bird, just think about an Israeli pilot, alive or dead paraded in Damascus and what this have done to Israel, to the Israeli government and if you understandbly dont give a..... about Israel, what it would have done to your Elections.
There was a real reason for this episode and up to this very moment so little is known. Just think that some of the WMD looked for so eagerly in Iraq were hidden away in the Syrian desert. The whole thing should not be taken lightly at all.
Any how as was said A good new year to all.

[Shunkleash]

MORNING GUYS!!!

Looks like another interesting day when the lebanese pols make me look foolish...and the ahweh is not even ready.

Is the report in An Nahar true? That SAAAAAAAAD the robot man was on tele/radio this morning with his response to Berri's/Bashars "intitiative" and basically said...weeeza all a lebaneeeze...meee soooo lave you NAAAAAABHI letza be frendz...weeeza going to do what you want NAAAAAAABHI! and then promptly nominated weeping willow to be the first to take it up the ass (with the rest of us to follow).

You GIVE these jackasses the freaking cake and they dont even know how to eat it!

Ayesh Lubnan

p.s. and to anyone who wants know the answer is YES!!! i drink like a fish and I LIKE IT!!!!

[Bad Vilbel]

I've been warning about M14 accepting Berri's so-called initiative. And I explained why I think it's not really an initiative, but more like blackmail than anything else. Well, the idiots in M14 seems to have fallen for the trick. They have gained absolutely NOTHING by accepting this initiative, and have given in on several fronts: The 2/3 quorum, and a "consensus" president.
While the former is mostly a technicality, the latter is a bigger matter. A consensus president means 2 things:
1. The opposition now has veto power over any candidate, and can use this power to insist on a pro-Syrian president, or block the elections and lead towards a transitional government.
2. Yet another stab in the back of democracy and the democratic institutions. The choosing of our next president has now officially been taken from the chamber of parliament, where it belongs according to the constitution, and placed squarely into the backrooms and salons of Ain El Teeneh, Koraitem, and Rabieh (not to mention Dahieh). Might as well abolish this antiquated parliament, and declare that from now on, a "supreme council" comprised of Nassrallah, Aoun, Hariri, Berri and Sfeir gets to appoint the presidents of the Republic of Lebanon.

Shame on M14 for betraying democracy once again.

The correct move, in my opinion, would have been to ignore all these initiative and just go and vote. Follow the constitution. That thing that every civilized country in the world has been urging us to do: Elect a new president according to the constitution. Whoever he may end up being.

[Abi Lama]

]North Korea is helping Syria to develop a nuclear program
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296686,00.html

WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence officials have developed evidence showing that North Korea is helping Syria to develop a nuclear program for weapons purposes, FOX News has learned in recent interviews with sources who have knowledge of the situation.

Syrians emphatically denied the claim on Thursday.

The details of the claims are vague, but one source told FOX News in late August that the North Koreans had sold the Syrians a nuclear facility, most likely related to uranium enrichment. Enriched uranium is necessary both for nuclear power and nuclear weapons uses. The United States accuses Syria of assisting terrorist groups including Hezbollah.

A source said the case has been assigned the internal code name, "Orchard," and the evidence was developed through Israeli channels, possibly with the assistance of U.S. aerial photography.

Other sources, however, questioned Syria's ability to afford such a pricey venture. ]Those sources said that in recent discussions with U.S. intelligence officials, the officials had spoken of North Korea having sent nuclear scientists, engineers, and other personnel with relevant expertise to Damascus.

"I've noticed more and more people [in the intelligence community] talking about people being sent over [from North Korea to Syria]," one high-ranking former National Security Council official said.

The former NSC official also said North Korea is "definitely still procuring [equipment] for its HEU [highly enriched uranium] program. It's not as if they are viewing the talks as some kind of 'time out' on their HEU work." This would be in direct contrast with efforts in the Six-Party talks to denuclearize the Korean peninsula .
Most of two dozen sources spoken to over the past three weeks, including current and former Bush administration officials, foreign diplomats, and nonproliferation experts, also said they have heard discussions about nuclear cooperation in one form or another between Syria and North Korea.

A spokesman for the Syrian embassy on Thursday called the allegations "absurd."

"This is an incredibly absurd and ridiculously fabricated story. Those who create such lies are misleading the American public and end-up undermining US national interest in a way reminiscent of what happened in Iraq previously. In fact, it is a shame that serious news outlets would waste time and space on such a fictitious idea," said embassy spokesman Ahmed Salkini.

[Abi Lama]

Dans la nuit de mercredi à jeudi derniers, Israël a mené une opération importante, au nord-est de la Syrie, non loin du fleuve Euphrate. L’opération a été effectuée par des chasseurs-bombardiers, peut-être accompagnés de troupes au sol. La cible visée était un stock d’armes d’origine iranienne destiné au Hezbollah au Liban. L’attaque a laissé un grand cratère dans le désert syrien.
Israël n’aurait pas entrepris de raid contre la Syrie, au risque objectif de déclencher une guerre avec ce pays, si ce n’était pour détruire un objectif présentant un risque existentiel immédiat pour sa sécurité. Or un chargement de roquettes, voir de missiles à la technologie éculée à destination du Hezbollah n’entre manifestement pas dans cette catégorie.
Particulièrement, il pourrait exister un rapport entre "l’immense cratère" cité par CNN et certainement visible sur les photos satellitaires et la piste coréenne. Autre élément allant dans ce sens, ce matin de gros problèmes dans les réseaux de communication et de téléphonie mobile libanais. Cette information est reprise par le quotidien Al Mustakbal.

Le journal de Kuweitien ' Al-Jareeda '

'La Turquie a aidé le IAF
Le journal dit que l'intelligence turque a fourni aux militaires israéliens des renseignements sur la Force aérienne de cibles syrienne prétendument attaquée la semaine dernière. L'assistance a été donnée sans l'autorisation de gouvernement turc, le rapport dit .
Selon les sources, le membre d'AKP et le Président nouvellement élu Abdullah Gul ne font pas assez pour prévenir le transfert des armes de l'Iran aux groupes de terreur en Syrie et au Liban via la Turquie.

[Abi Lama]

Le Washington Post, citant des sources anonymes des services de renseignement américains, a rapporté ce jeudi que la Corée du Nord aidait la Syrie à construire des installations nucléaires. Au cours des six derniers mois, l'administration américaine aurait ainsi reçu de nombreuses informations des services secrets israéliens, dont des images que le Washington Post qualifie de « spectaculaires ». Selon le quotidien, celles-ci auraient conduit certains responsables américains à penser que ces installations pourraient avoir une finalité militaire. Sur ordre de Stephen Hadley, le conseiller à la sécurité nationale de la Maison Blanche, seules quelques personnes auraient toutefois été informées de l’ampleur du dossier.

Cette volonté de discrétion serait liée à des divergences au sein de l'administration américaine sur les suites à donner à ces informations. Si en 2003, Pyongyang a bien menacé de propager sa technologie nucléaire à l’étranger, le pays est en effet aujourd’hui engagé sur le chemin d’une normalisation avec les Etats-Unis. Pour rappel, la Corée du Nord a fermé son complexe nucléaire de Yongbyon le 15 juillet, ouvrant la voie à une reprise de la coopération internationale, comme prévu dans l’accord signé à Pékin le 13 février dernier au terme d’une session des pourparlers à six (Etats-Unis, Chine, Russie, Japon et les deux Corées).

Une enquête approfondie devrait néanmoins être exigée par les conseillers de la Maison Blanche les plus hostiles à Pyongyang, tel John Bolton, ancien ambassadeur américain aux Nations unies, et sous-secrétaire d’Etat en charge du contrôle des armes et de la sécurité des affaires internationales de 2001 à 2005. Ce dernier a justifié aujourd’hui tous les soupçons émis à l’encontre de la Corée du Nord et de la Syrie en raison de leur collaboration militaire passée. Dans les années 90, Pyongyang a en effet livré plusieurs dizaines de missiles balistiques de type Scud-CS à Damas. Dans les conditions actuelles, on peut néanmoins douter fortement de la capacité des deux pays à s'associer dans le domaine nucléaire.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202430.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Jeha]

Did M14 actually call Berri's Bluff?

He just went on TV to say that their Thursday's "statement was not a response to [his] 'initiative'", but rather "a condolence message to the Lebanese". So they bend tho his will, he refuses... Then he goes on to try and drive a wedge between Saad and Siniora.

Lamo...

With opponents like this, M14 does not need strong leaders.

[Bad Vilbel]

Interesting. We'll have to see how this plays out. I am still not entirely convinced about what's going on. It seems all of a sudden, everyone and their sister is supporting Berri's initiative: The Saudis, the French, the Brits, etc.

And now that M14 seems to accept it, Berri backs down...Hm...

[fubar]

Well, Berri is seething so all is not what you may have thought at first.

FYI - Ouwet has the video of today's Kalem el Ness up already so those of you without LBC can watch Berri there.

AK, when are you going to put Ouwet back in the update sidebar? I know, the Bashir worship probably grates on you a bit, but they are putting up daily LBC news video and other good news too. Anyway, for anyone who doesn't know yet, now you do.

(Daily Star) "Because I called for a parliamentary session on September 25, they cannot meet ... without me or by virtue of law as they think," said Berri, quoting Article 73 of the Constitution.

The speaker vowed to continue calling for a session, even after October 24, which marks a deadline of 10 days before President Emile Lahoud's (extended) mandate expires and said: "I have the right!"

****

The mailbox is so funny...

And Sfeir says...

(Daily Star) Sfeir said if Lebanese politicians fail to reach a consensus about the next president, "then we should resort to elections."

"It is worth noting here that any candidate in the presidential poll should win the majority of votes of MPs so as to be elected as president and in order to be a true representative of the Lebanese," he said.

(AKI) "We hope that the Lebanese leaders can reach an agreement ahead of the election of a new head of state, if not unanimously, then at least with a majority of votes in the parliament," he said.

******

Why is it that Sfeir only makes sense when he is in Rome?

On the previous topic, while the govt. decides to investigate Wiam Wahhab’s Customs "incident", "Wahhab threatened to file a complaint against the NOW Lebanon website for exaggerating the incident and spreading false rumors." LOL, that should be fun...

[Tony]

Eyal Zisser, I think, puts it well This is a complete and total embarrassment for Bashar.

This makes all the bluster (the "half-men" speech, "we will liberate the Golan through all possible means," etc.) sound even emptier, and makes all their current threats ("wait for it, it will come in the right place at the right time" "the response will be tough," etc.) . Syria appeared as it really is. This is its regional weight. It appeared impotent, without even a diplomatic response, and completely isolated and its diplomats even more pathetic than they usually look and sound.

Here's what Zisser said:

“In the short term, Syria looks like it’s getting back to normal. That’s what they are broadcasting. But the significance of getting back to normal is to erase all of the media and propaganda achievements that Syria got out of the Lebanon war; it’s to go back to a situation in which Syria stands by impotently and weak next to Israel,” said Eyal Zisser, an expert on Syria at Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Center for Near East and North African Studies, told Israel Radio.

“It’s as if we discovered Bashar’s bluff. He’s been threatening for a year. And suddenly something happens, and he’s helpless. That is significant. I don’t know how Bashar will digest this, and that is what the concern is.”

[Abu Kais]

Fubar, I had the ouwet feed there, but they update so often that they kill off all other entries from the rest of the blogs on the list. I don't want it to all be from one blog.

[ghassan karam]

Yes Tony, it is time for those who were not in a position to see earlier that the emperor has no clothes. The pretense is over.

[Bad Vilbel]

Sfeir cracks me up. "If we can't have consensus, then we should have elections" ??? No kidding...What a maroon. THAT IS WHAT ELECTIONS ARE FOR, you dimwit. THAT IS WHAT PARLIAMENT IS FOR!

As for Bashar: The emperor has no clothes indeed. I just wish the blind folks in Lebanon would actually LOOK at the emperor and take stock of his nudity. Those in the opposition who are clamoring about how horrible Israel is for having raped the sisterly arab country might want to ask their supreme Bashar why he isn't throwing the "Resistance" at Israel over in the Golan. How easy it is to "Resist" when it's Lebanese blood in Lebanon that's being spilled. When it comes to spilling his own people's blood, on his own soil, and risking his own regime, he hides in a hole and we don't hear as much as a peep from him about the Golan or the Israeli raid.

[anonymous]

Anyone remember Ahmadinijad a few months ago threatening Israel with retaliation if they attacked Syria?? Where are they ?
Syria is so isolated.Even Iran does not raise a hand to help.

[Macemuscle]

Nuclear weapons, chemical weapons... sounds like the same bullsh*t that the U.S. said about Iraq as a pretext to their invasion

Does anyone really still believe this sh*t??

[Bad Vilbel]

Does anyone still believe the "Zionist conspiracy" bullshit?
Does anyone still believe Bashar's gonna liberate the Golan by force?
Does anyone still believe anything Nabih Berri says?
Does anyone still believe anything Michel Aoun says?

Thought so.

[Macemuscle]

The difference is that "zionist conspiracies", Bashar, Berri and Aoun were not used as an excuse to launch an illegitimate invasion and an illegal occupation of Iraq causing the death of over a million Iraqi civilians not to mention the collapse of the country into anarchy and civil war... the fabricated "intelligence" of WMD did... and now you are hearing this fabricated "intelligence" again and you are believing it again!!