If bombed, does Syria have the capacity to retaliate?

[kentuck]

In any way?

What could they possibly do to us?

Do they just have to grin and bear it?

Surely they would not want any revenge?

Because they don't want to mess with us.

Right?

[David Krout]

1. Some relatives of victims will join Al Qaeda

People from other Muslim countries plus Muslims who live in US cities will get more pissed than they are now and will likely attempt revenge.

Let's hope it doesn't get to that point.

[cali]

2. not against our armed forces, but blowback is certainly a possibility

In any case, there is no "they". The Syrian people are fractured on this.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. They'll go up on the mountain to reconsider their past sins.

No biggie. They're humble folks.

[durablend]

4. They'll just throw spitballs at us

So claim the "keyboard commandos"

[Xithras]

5. They have the capability to make a huge mess.

They could easily pull Iran, Israel, and Turkey into the war. We'll probably keep our ships far enough offshore to keep them out of range of the Syrian antiship missiles, but the US airbase at Incirlick is well within range of Syrian weapons, as are several joint U.S./Jordanian sites. If they really wanted to strike back at the U.S., they certainly have the ability to fill some American bodybags.

The biggest danger, though, is simply that they would start bombarding Israel, which could trigger a more regional war. Assad has already promised to do so, but the jury is out on whether he still has the capacity or loyalty from his soldiers to pull it off. Even worse, of course, was his ominous promise last year to use his chemical weapons if the country is attacked from the outside. Can you imagine the blowback from a multi-rocket sarin strike on Tel Aviv?

[longship]

7. It'll be a mess alright.

But Assad cannot attack US.

He can make a mess of things, but I think everybody in the ME knows enough not to mess with Israel. So who else is he going to mess with? Turkey? Right. Attacking NATO will work out fine for him.

Like anybody else is going to come to his aid if he attempts an attack on a US warship?

I do not support intervention in Syria, but Assad is undoubtedly extended fighting his own people. If we attack, he does not have many options and I cannot believe that he would think that escalation into a regional conflict would help him very much.

Again. I do not support intervention. I think it would be a very bad idea, but not so much because of what Assad may do.

[kentuck]

8. I think Assad is holding on to power by his finger tips...

An attack by the US could be the only thing that saves him? Because the only they hate more than Assad is America.

[longship]

9. Well, regardless, it's a clusterfuck for Syrians. nt

[HooptieWagon]

6. Rocket and artillary attack on Golan Heights.

They can hit anywhere along border with Jordan. Turkey is tougher, rebels control much of northern border with Turkey. But its possible they could make a terror attack inside Turkey. All are US allies...likely targets. Pretty much impossible for Syria to attack US directly.

Most likely would be an attack on Israel, hoping to draw Iran in to the fight.