Iran to finance Syria's war efforts; Syria to refrain from peace talks with Israel

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
I'm more likely to leave Israel due to the corruption and disgraceful politics leading to an economy that abuses the working middle class while creating a class of non-employed leechers.

A working person in Israel pays almost 45% tax and sponsors about 1.7 people.

Now you're tempting Aggie to move there.

[Heresson]

Well, it's Israel talks. Syria proposed talks with Israel, but Israel insisted on Syria abandoning Iran first, which it obviously it could not do, because it would mean loss of the only ally. Israel wanted Syria on its knees, and willingly or not it's pushed Damascus even further into Teheran's embrace.

[DinoDoc]

Why is Syria allied with Iran anyway? It doesn't seem like a natural one given the religious differences between the two.

[SlowwHand]

Name something that IS normal over there.

[Heresson]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Why is Syria allied with Iran anyway? It doesn't seem like a natural one given the religious differences between the two.

huh? Syria may be majorli sunni, but the ruling elite is shia. Of course, it is alawi, precisely, while Iran is 12-imam shia, but oh well.
But yes, it is not quite natural. Syria is in general a secular country, while Iran is not quite the same. They keep together due to Israel mostly and its support by USA.

[DinoDoc]

What do they get out of the alliance? AFAIK, they loose any real chance of getting the Golan back from it. Which is strange since Israel has demonstrated that it is willing to give back land as Egypt found out.

[Heresson]

Syria is desperately looking for any supporting states. Iran is not only a reassurance that Syria is not completely alone in the region, and will get help if Israel or USA attacks, but it also is, I may surmise, handy in internal affairs. Alawis are always in danger of revolt of sunni fundamentalism. By alliance with Hizb Allah and Iran, Syria puts itself in the avanguarde of fight against Israel, which sorts of ventils the disilusion with Baathist rule. Also,l while I am not sure, Syria had state of emergency running for 40 years or so, which helps Baathist rule. Now ending state of war with Israel would mean end of excuse for that. It makes me wonder if Syria is actually interested in peace. Peace of Israel, if was not completely successful, could undermine irs rulers. The same unsuccessful peace talks may be a danger to them.
I am wondering about something else. You know, there are always flags, posters of Bashshar al-Asad and his family on the streats for sale. During the war of Lebanon, they were mostly superseded by Nasr Allah and flags of Hizb Allah. Nothing wrong, but I wonder if popularity of Hizb Allah is not dangerous for Asads in the long run. Just a thought.

[Sirotnikov]

H

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
H

QFT

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Aggie - thanks for the advice.

It wasn't facetious. I met quite a number of Israelis in the past couple of years (one in my building who I helped move his stuff, lots at school) who've transplanted themselves to Canada.

They all say one of either two things:

(1) They are personally disgusted with what Israel has become with regard to the Palestinians (i.e. straight out political reasons).

(2) They believe that Israel is on borrowed time, and it would be better to leave now and beat the rush (i.e. fear).

Think of Canada though. Montreal has a really old Jewish community. Toronto's is less venerable, but pretty vibrant. You'll be able to find lots of familiar foods and kosher groceries in either city and there are plenty of community organizations.

Now you're tempting Aggie to move there.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Agathon


It wasn't facetious. I met quite a number of Israelis in the past couple of years (one in my building who I helped move his stuff, lots at school) who've transplanted themselves to Canada.

They all say one of either two things:

(1) They are personally disgusted with what Israel has become with regard to the Palestinians (i.e. straight out political reasons).

(2) They believe that Israel is on borrowed time, and it would be better to leave now and beat the rush (i.e. fear).

Thats odd, of the Israelis I know who live here, it almost always had to do with their careers, economic standard of living, etc. Their politics is rarely more to the left than standard Labour party.

Israelis have been leaving Israel, for decades. Theyve also returned, many of them. The idea that yordeh is a sign of the ship sinking is silly, if it were the ship would have sunk decades ago.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Agathon


Think of Canada though. Montreal has a really old Jewish community. Toronto's is less venerable, but pretty vibrant. You'll be able to find lots of familiar foods and kosher groceries in either city and there are plenty of community organizations.

If you move to DC, you can probably find familiar food, at least if you find Salvadoran food and Korean Barbecue familiar. I dont know that you'd find a vibrant New Zealander community, but youd find lots of people speaking unintelligibly about all sorts of very old documents.

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by Agathon
It wasn't facetious. I met quite a number of Israelis in the past couple of years (one in my building who I helped move his stuff, lots at school) who've transplanted themselves to Canada.

Oh, yes I know.

I didn't take it as an insult.

They all say one of either two things:

(1) They are personally disgusted with what Israel has become with regard to the Palestinians (i.e. straight out political reasons).

(2) They believe that Israel is on borrowed time, and it would be better to leave now and beat the rush (i.e. fear).

I admit there are stupid things we do in regards to the palestinians, but I don't think we're truly evil. Lots of abuses occur for different reasons, and that will always happen in such a situation.

I think that Israel might be on borrowed time due to inner political reasons. There are 3 scary minorities that are ever rising.

1) the Northern Islamic movement of Israeli Arabs
2) the anti-zionist Ultra Othodox jewry, that is abusing and draining the Israeli society.
3) the ultra-zionist messianic orthodox settler movement, that uses democratic means to undermine democracy and can make a future peace solution impossible.


All of those are threats on economy and my quality of life.

Think of Canada though. Montreal has a really old Jewish community. Toronto's is less venerable, but pretty vibrant. You'll be able to find lots of familiar foods and kosher groceries in either city and there are plenty of community organizations.

Yes I know.

Jews in the diaspora are always more successful. Something about all of us coming together that makes it bad.

[lord of the mark]

"The two leaders signed a comprehensive agreement on strategic cooperation between Tehran and Damascus, according to which Iran will transfer a billion dollars to Syria for the purchase of 400 advanced T-72 Russian tanks, 18 MiG-31 warplanes, eight Sukhoi fighter jets and eight Mikoyan helicopters."

Sounds liket the Sov - er, Russians, are offering bargain prices. Doesnt a front line modern fighter go for about $50 million? Which would mean $900 million just for the Migs, but then there are the sukhois, the tanks, and the choppers. All for only a billion. (plus frequent buyer points maybe?)

Or maybe this is disinfo. If Syria has reason to engage in talks with Israel to put pressure on Iran, by the same token it has reason to engage in talks with Iran, to put pressure for a better deal with Israel and the West.

[LordShiva]

I didn't even know Iran had a billion dollars.