'Israel must prepare for full-scale war'

[bemildred]

Israel has to prepare for a full-scale war, in which Syria will be an important player, an Israeli military official told the British Sunday Times. "The challenge from Iran and Syria is now top of the Israeli defense agenda, higher than the Palestinian one," another official said.

The recent war with Hizbullah and the threat that Iran could achieve nuclear weapons capability have led Israel to reexamine its defense strategies, and focus on the region's two major supporters of terrorism, IDF sources have said recently. One conclusion is that Israel has allocated too much time and energy to addressing the terror threat posed by Palestinian groups in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

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Eyeing Syria, the IDF has formed a new infantry brigade, known as Kfir (young lion), as a countermeasure against Syria's commando forces, which are considered "better" than Hizbullah guerrillas, a military source informed the Times. The IDF is also reportedly integrating three elite brigades in preparation for them cooperating on deep cross-border operations into Syria and Iran.

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Some analysts say that it would have been better for Israel to attack Syria during the recent war with Hizbullah. Syria has consistently supplied Hizbullah with weapons, and according to recent UN reports, has continued to smuggle arms to the organization despite an international embargo. "If they had acted against Syria during this last kerfuffle, the war might have ended more quickly and better," American analyst Richard Perle said.

JPost

[rockymountaindem]

1. And that's why Richard Perle is an idiot

This isn't a game of Risk, Perle. Military maneuvres have diplomatic consequences. Perhaps attacking Syria might have beaten Hezbollah more quickly, but it would have turned what was ostensibly a conflict between a state and a non-state entity into an inter-state war. The second option is automatically worse than the first, militarily and diplomatically.

I think it should be conventional wisdom to do the opposite of what Perle says.

[fooj]

4. I'm with you re: Pearle.

[aquart]

11. Has he noticed the size and population of Syria?

Versus the size and population of Israel?

Obviously not.

[rockymountaindem]

12. That doesn't really matter

When it comes to warfare, size and population aren't everything. Look at Japan's victories in China between 1895 and 1945, the USSR's abject failure against Finland in 1939-40, and all of Israel's previous victories.

I have no doubts that Israel could win a war against Syria and Hezbollah combined. I just question the wisdom of Perle's suggestion of how such a war should start. The scenario he outlined, supposedly advantageous to Israel, in actuality is not. While Israel could win militariliy, sparking a war with Syria last summer would have been very bad for Israel diplomatically. If such a war is to turn out well for Israel, it has to be Syria who makes the first move.

[bemildred]

13. Size does matter.

[Kagemusha]

14. Occupation is where the real problem lies

Israel can win a war against Syria, but holding Syria is a problem to put it mildly. Japan got bogged down occupying parts of China; the main thing helping Japan in that case was the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists in the remainder of China.

[rockymountaindem]

15. Israel does not seek to occupy Syria

They would hold the Golan Heights, but an occupation of Damascus is not in the cards.

[Kagemusha]

16. It's not in the cards, because size does matter for something.

Given that, bringing down the government of Syria, which is secular and which keeps religious crazies of its own under control, and replacing it with nothing at all but vague hopes that chaos will improve the situation, is the height of folly. I find it not surprising whatsoever that therefore, there are figures in Israel who are proposing it.

[IntiRaymi]

2. There has to be a limit to the free speech this idiot has.

Shouting FIRE in a crowded theater is not free speech.

[Kagemusha]

5. A crowded military theatre perhaps?

That's funny. :)

[Kagemusha]

3. So this is like Germany invading France in WW1?

Because Russia threatened it from the East?

[bemildred]

6. Seemed Rumsfeldt-ian to me.

If you have an insoluble small problem, make it bigger.

Anyone that would actually listen to Perle at this point must have a death wish.

[htuttle]

7. Again with the 'kerfuffle'!

WTF is wrong with Perle?

"If they had acted against Syria during this last kerfuffle, the war might have ended more quickly and better," American analyst Richard Perle said.

Tens or hundreds of thousands of dead is not a 'kerfuffle'.

[pretzel4gore]

9. perle's death=a kerfuffle

frigging tapeworm; other nations defend themselves from the likes o perle, but not the WSA (formerly USA)

[tabasco]

8. What was Perle's military experience again?

Oh, I see. Zero days in the service. Ummhmmm.

I must say we have met and learned to hate an entire chickenhawk brigade with the Bush administration.

So much incompetence. So much greed.

[williesgirl]

10. I'm so sick of these fucking hawks who've never been to battle themselves.

[Disturbed]

17. Syria is a Ba'athist Regime as was Iraq.

We see what is happening there.