Wtf? Israeli fighter jets buzzed the home of Syrian President al-Assad?

[leftchick]

I just caught a reporter calling this buzzing by jets a "cheeky move" by Israel and so I googled to find an articl about it. I just can not believe how fast this is all getting so out of control. Damn....

<snip>

The Israeli press is abuzz with theories that this cataclysm was all part of some larger plan, and that Mr. Olmert is using the abduction of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was abducted on the Gazan border almost three weeks ago, as a pretext for toppling the Hamas government. In fact, in the days and months leading up to Cpl. Shalit's capture, Israel began arresting and targeting Hamas ministers in Gaza. In rhetoric similar to that invoked to justify the U.S. invasion of Iraq after 9/11, Mr. Olmert announced his intention to, “fight Hamas here and abroad. "Abroad" refers of course to Syria, where two Israeli fighter jets buzzed the home of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, apparently to send a warning that the Syrians are next.

http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2006/07/middle_east.html

[Terran1212]

1. Wasn't this like a week ago?

I wonder what WE'D do if Syrian Jets buzzed Washington DC. We'd declare it an act of war and probably send lots of bombs the way of whoever did it.

Israel is really acting a little insane here.

[cal04]

2. If american pilots go over the white house

they get arrested or asked questions. How many times have we heard that since Bush has been in office

[leftchick]

3. was it a week ago?

The reporter on CNNI made it sound like it happened today. WTF is Israel doing?

[muriel_volestrangler]

over 2 weeks ago

when the fighting in Gaza started.

Israeli Planes Buzz Home of Syrian Leader

Israel said its warplanes buzzed the summer residence of President Bashar Assad Wednesday in a bold warning to the country that shelters the political leader of Hamas, the Islamic militant group holding an Israeli soldier captive in the Gaza Strip.

State-run Syrian television, in its account of the incident, said two Israeli planes flew near Syria's Mediterranean coast early Wednesday and ``national air defenses opened fire in the direction of the planes, and they dispersed.'' Assad's summer residence is in the western city of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast.

The Syrian report did not mention the Israeli claim that the fighter jets buzzed Assad's summer residence.
...
Israeli television reported that four planes were involved in the low-altitude flight, and that Assad was in the residence at the time. Israeli military officials said Assad was targeted because he has sheltered Hamas leaders blamed by Israel for masterminding the kidnapping.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5918744,00.html

It seemed inflammatory at the time, but compared to what has happened since ... :shrug:

[atreides1]

4. Israel can act anyway it wants too

The US has it covered in the UN Security Council, and we the taxpayers provide them the money to maintain a strong military. And yet the poverty level in Israel is high, but I guess buying ammo to kill, is much more important then feeding people, look at the US.

[global1]

5. The Bush Doctrine - Pre-Emptive Strikes - Out Of Control .....nt

[cantstandbush]

6. If Israel or the US doesn't like the democracy people vote for themselves

they find some way to bomb the hell out of them or otherwise inflict damage. All bets should be off with the Arab coalition that supports the US in its war on terror. The US was the only country to veto the UN resolution put forth on Gaza, and Qatar put the resolution forth. It's time for them to call in their chits and go home. If Israel decided to bomb the hell out of them to go after their land and riches they should know that the US would back Israel.

[Bandit]

7. Doesn't Syria have any anti-aircraft defense?

If it were me I would have blown those jets out of the sky. What right do they have to invade Syrian airspace? IMO it is an act of war.

[philb]

8. maybe because

Syria is aware of Israels ability to fight a war in the air....

for the rest, the Wye River Plantation memo pretty much insures that the U.S. will destroy anyone dumb enough to really try to take the Israelis to task

maybe we should be asking the aggressors to dial it back in the interest of "regional peace"

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. Could you expand on this, please?

for the rest, the Wye River Plantation memo pretty much insures that the U.S. will destroy anyone dumb enough to really try to take the Israelis to task


I'm not sure what exactly you're referring to. I recall this document as an agreement between Israel and the PA, not the US and Israel.

[philb]

12. granted,

i did overstate the actual content of "Wye River".....

i should have said that as an extension of the Oslo Accords (pre Wye River") and Camp David, July 2000 (post Wye River)........

the overall consensus was that the Palestinians and Israeli's would never find common ground and thusly would never realize peace...

Thereby, I PERSONALLY took the position that the U.S. will come to the aid of Israel against any aggressor (anticipating complete failure). I believe this knowing that the U.S. and Israel have no mutual defence agreement.

I was using the Wye River memo as a foundation for a personal opinion but you are absolutely correct that the Wye River memo did not rise to the level I represented.

I do appreciate the query.

[Clarkie1]

9. Old news. nt

[Thtwudbeme]

10. "Cheeky."

My God, who writes this crap?

I read the comment about this being "old news" but, Christ on Rollerblades, this is going from bad to worse fast.

I wish we had some grownups in DC right now. Hell, I would even be pleased to dig Ronnie up and stick him up there in the Oval Office--better him than this joke of a little man who gets a weird kick out of war.