Israel prepares for air strikes against Iran…by bombing Syria?

On Sunday, American media gave the impression that recycled “BREAKING NEWS” about O.J. Simpson and Britney Spears was of global importance.

Meanwhile, British media distinguished itself by reporting breaking news about a story of indisputably-critical global importance, which actually reads like a Hollywood script. In particular, the Sunday Times of London led with the sensational headline: Israel blew apart Syrian nuclear cache.

And here, in part, is what the Times reported went down on 6 September:

But this story is especially noteworthy because it not only harkens back to Israel’s 1981 air raid that destroyed Iraq’s nuclear facilities, but also telestrates my concerns about a looming attack (by Israel or the US) to destroy Iran’s nuclear cache.

In fact, here’s what I wrote in April 2006 about Israel’s resolve in this regard:

Moreover, here’s what I wrote just weeks ago about the US’s (ie, President George W Bush’s) resolve:

Not to be outdone, French media followed up on Monday with equally compelling stories about the drumbeats of war. But instead of informing the public about the gathering dangers of this rogue state possessing nuclear weapons, they focused on the political dynamics of a new coalition of the willing being formed to confront Iran.

In fact, here’s how Bruno Tertrais of the Foundation for Strategic explained the French resolve:

Nevertheless, media reports were actually consistent with my assertion about France’s role in this unfolding war drama. Because here’s what I wrote in the above-referenced article delineating the US’s resolve:

Therefore, despite [French President Nicolas] Sarkozy affecting Hamletian doubt about becoming as much an enabler for US-led air strikes against Iran, as British PM Tony Blair was for the US-led invasion of Iraq, I fear that my geostrategic prognosis of this situation [ie, the looming war with Iran] is even more of a sure bet today than it was two weeks ago.

It is instructive to note, however, that Israel launched air strikes against Syria because credible intelligence revealed that – despite North Korea’s declarations to the contrary – it was supplying this “terrorist state” (and Israel’s mortal enemy) with nuclear materials.

Which makes my warning just two weeks ago about North Korea’s congenital duplicity – in an article entitled North Korea denuked?! Dream on – seem prophetic.

(Incidentally, some experts suspect that North Korea conspired with Syria to hide the materials from parties involved in ongoing “Six-Party Talks” to dismantle its nuclear program; Whereas, others speculate that Syria bought the contraband outright to further its own nuclear ambitions. Alas, North Korea is as North Korea does.)

But for years I’ve been lamenting “the willing suspension of disbelief” amongst some in America when it comes to the trustworthiness of this hermit kingdom’s “Dr Strangelove” – President Kim Jong-il. After all, it was the first “2 for 1” Clinton Administration that gave Lil’ Kim the cover of a patently-flawed nuclear disarmament agreement under which he developed the materials Israel was just compelled to destroy in Syria.

Finally, you’re probably wondering when, indeed if, Syria will respond.

All I can say is the military and political echelon is looking into a series of responses as we speak. [Syrian vice-president, Farouk al-Sharaa]

But frankly, almost two weeks after being attacked, Syria seems to have been cowered into limiting its response to aiding and abetting Hezbollah in its declared mission to not only destabilize the pro-Western Lebanese government, but also wipe Israel off the map.

Perhaps you recall how a ragtag band of Hezbollah guerrilla fighters bedeviled the Israeli Army last summer – after Israel attacked their stronghold in Southern Lebanon vowing to rout them out. Therefore, I rather suspect Israel would welcome a direct response from Syria as an opportunity to avenge that humiliating incursion and vindicate the reputation of its vaunted military.

So stay tuned….

Related Articles:
Time to put up or shut up about Iran’s nuclear program
Bush will attack Iran to redeem his presidency (note the UPDATE)
Bush setting America up for war with Iran
North Korea denuked?! Dream on…

Israel attacks Syria, Israel attacks Iran