Speculation: Joint US-Israeli invasion of Syria in the Fall?

[Minstrel Boy]

There's a lot of buzz about Syria.

I have a friend from my Army days who's still serving. He's currently in Landstuhl Germany. They're currently undergoing a lot of heavy prep work and the rumors are that it's in advance of a near future invasion of Syria.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1450929

he saw a huge train hauling freshly painted desert-sand heavy armament on it's way to Fort Hood from Stewart and Stevenson (near Houston). Said it was armored personnel carriers and 109-A2's (self-propelled Howitzers). He's thinking Syria is next.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1448892

The United States has been fighting what officials term a silent war with Syria which killed at least five soldiers over the weekend.

U.S. officials said U.S. Marines have deployed along the Syrian border to stop the flow of insurgents and equipment to Iraq. They said Marines have engaged with both Sunni insurgents as well as some Syrian security personnel along the border in clashes that have intensified over the last few weeks.
http://216.26.163.62/2004/ss_syria_04_19.html

"Cambodia is to 1970 as Syria is to 2005"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1451333

But for all the sabre rattling, and despite the administration's recklessness, there's disbelief that the US could be so foolhardy. Where, for example, could the extra troops come from?

Well, how about Israel?

Israeli Army Radio reported that a cabinet minister, Gideon Ezra, told Sunday's meeting the next target would be Hamas's main leader in exile, Khaled Meshaal, who lives in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

"The fate of Khaled Meshaal is the fate of Rantissi," Mr Ezra told the meeting. "The minute we have the operational opportunity we will do this."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/19/1082357118446.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1442657#1443060

A Syrian parliamentarian has expressed his rejection of the American repeated demands for his country to dispatch forces to guard its border with Iraq in order to prevent the sneaking of what Washington call foreign fighters, noting that Damascus will not isolate its borders with Israel in order to help the American forces in Iraq.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040421/2004042116.html

Just last year, the sight of US and Israeli troops conducting a joint action upon an Arab country would have been inconceivable. But is anything inconceivable now? Bush and Sharon have torn up the road map. There's not even the pretense anymore that the Bush White House cares about the "Arab street," other than that it be brought to heel.

Remember geography - Syria is surrounded - and remember what's at stake this Fall, and what a war "bounce" could mean.

[Failure]

1. That'll really "pacify" the middle east....NOT

[Racenut20]

2. Surley even these dummies are not that dumb?

[aquart]

3. This idea is so stupid I'm sure Bush plans to do it.

As to Israel fighting a war of aggression, maybe Sharon wants to, but has he asked anyone else? Israel is a tiny country with a small population. To fight such a war, it would have to leave itself unprotected, and abandon desperately necessary jobs that keep this tiny resource-free nation barely above water. Everyone in Israel is ready to fight to DEFEND Israel. But this ain't defense.

Attacking LARGE Syria would require more resources than the US or Israel possess considering ours are busy with two wars already, and Israel doesn't have any.

When you fantasize this kind of thing, do you ever look at a map? See the teeny tiny squiggle? That's Israel. It can't afford a war.

So, have you finished with this inflammatory and vicious garbage?

[Minstrel Boy]

4. Disingenuous much?

The "teeny tiny squiggle" has defeated united Arab armies on multiple fronts more than once.

Now, it finds an American force of 100,000+ occupying what was considered its most threatening neighbour.

"Inflammatory vicious garbage"? Don't let history catch you with your pants down.

[robertpaulsen]

5. I think a joint US-Israel invasion of Syria is conceivable.

But I don't see it happening in the fall. I don't think Bush would get a war "bounce" unless we were attacked first. Then again, perhaps getting attacked first is all part of the plan.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. I think the casus belli could be

Syria's "harbouring terrorists."

Remember the recent chemical attack said to have been foiled in Jordan? The story is an al Qaeda cell transported the chemicals from Syria. And casting a wider net, and providing justification for Sharon, there are Hamas and Hezbollah.

[theboss]

6. I don't see us having the resources to do this

Now if we start to pull troops from Korea . . . .

[icymist]

11. Or restart the draft....

And, yes, I do believe these guys are dumb enough to do this.

[RoyGBiv]

7. Possibly

Strangely, about ten minutes after I read this, I heard a teaser on the local Faux channel (gotta get my Simpson's fix) that went something like this:

"Some say Syria is letting terrorists into Iraq to kill US soldiers. Should we invade Syria next? Find out, tonight on Fox."

:scared:

[Christ was Socialist]

9. what happens if kerry wins?

Can't bush still act on the day after the election?

[xchrom]

10. timed to go along with saudia arabia's

manipulation in the oil market - i.e. open the spigots! bring down the price for the chimpmeister.

[Minstrel Boy]

12. "U.S. says Syria aids Iraqi-bound jihadists"

Building the case for expanding the war...

Washington, DC, Apr. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. intelligence reports indicate Syria is allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq and also arming them, the Washington Times reported Wednesday.

Asked how conclusive U.S. intelligence is on Syrian aid, one official told the Times, "No doubt about it."

It is not clear, however, whether Damascus is actively organizing the influx or if Syrian President Bashar Assad is involved directly.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040421-072718-9691r.htm

[Disturbed]

13. Possible

It would be a real stupid move but we know how stupid W is. the US has missles and the Air Force. Ground troops may not even be needed.Would and attack upon Syria bring Iran? If Syria is attacked Iran would figure that they are next, so why not send in troops to help Syria? Maybe Iran would send in troops to Iraq to drive out the US there.What other nation would jump into this to aid Syria?

[mmonk]

14. and

it seems Engel D-NY is always on CSPAN making some diatribe on the House floor against Syria.

[OneBlueSky]

15. first Syria . . . then Iran . . . then maybe even Saudi Arabia . . .

and then it's on to North Korea . . . these folks really do want to start WWIII, the apolcalyptic battle of the Christians against the infidels . . . and the scariest thing of all is that they have a whole bunch of nukes that they're not afraid to use . . .