Israel's attack is a lethal step towards war in Middle East [View All]

[bemildred]

Warp factor seven Scotty, all phasers on stun.

No one asks what these "training bases" are. Do Palestinian suicide
bombers really need to practice suicide bombing? Does turning a switch
need that much training? Surely the death of a brother or a cousin by
the Israeli army is all the practice that is needed.

But no. Yesterday, we took another little lethal step along the road
to Middle East war, establishing facts on the ground, proving that
it's permissible to bomb the territory of Syria in the "war against
terror", which President Bush has himself declared now includes Gaza.

And the precedents are there if we need them. Back in 1983, when
President Reagan thought he was fighting a "war on terror" in the
Middle East, he ordered his air force to bomb the Syrian army in the
Lebanese Bekaa Valley, losing a pilot and allowing the Syrians to
capture his co-pilot, who was only returned after a prolonged and
politically embarrassing negotiation by Jesse Jackson. In an era when
America is ready to threaten the invasion of Syria and Iran - part of
that infamous "axis of evil" - this may seem small beer. But Syria
itself has seen what has happened to America's army in Iraq, and is
emboldened by its humiliation to avenge the attacks of Israel or
America, whatever the cost.

If America cannot control Iraq, why should Syria fear Israel?

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