This just in: Israel returns fire on Syrian targets from the Golan Heights

[Alexander's Horse]

Started yesterday apparently.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/middle-east-in-turmoil/israel-in-direct-hits-on-syria-targets/story-fn7ycml4-1226515626495

There was a time when firing across that line would have got the world very worried. Does it still matter? Discuss.

[Zevico]

Another day, another tragedy. Does it still matter? Too soon to tell whether the Syrians will escalate. If so, it will doubtless matter. If not-then it's a blip-- a stray data point, an unknown in a regime whose inner workings are a mystery. Who knows? The Syrians (or some element of them) might be playing at "wag the dog"--a credible strategy in a civil war. At this point it's idle speculation though.

[Alexander's Horse]

The west is going to going to look pretty foolish if with these so-called freedom fighters attack Israel. Sometimes the devil you know is better.

[Hauldren Collider]

The west is going to going to look pretty foolish if with these so-called freedom fighters attack Israel. Sometimes the devil you know is better.

QFT. I've been saying that for a while, but everyone calls me an authoritarian when I do.

[kentonio]

That only makes sense if you're presuming the sole priority of the west is to ensure that no country attacks Israel. I'm very pro-Israel but if the price of Israeli peace is a bunch of other countries being forced to remain under dictatorships then I'm not at all convinced that's a price worth paying. Especially as the reason for much of that Israeli hate is that the dictatorships the US was propping up deflected internal critisism by blaming Israel for all their problems. This is a classic case of pigeons coming home to roost.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

What would be funny if Israel routs the freedom fighters for Assad, very funny, and practical.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That only makes sense if you're presuming the sole priority of the west is to ensure that no country attacks Israel. I'm very pro-Israel but if the price of Israeli peace is a bunch of other countries being forced to remain under dictatorships then I'm not at all convinced that's a price worth paying. Especially as the reason for much of that Israeli hate is that the dictatorships the US was propping up deflected internal critisism by blaming Israel for all their problems. This is a classic case of pigeons coming home to roost.

[Aeson]

QFT. I've been saying that for a while, but everyone calls me an authoritarian when I do.

It's inconceivable how supporting dictators would get you painted as authoritarian.

[Aeson]

The west is going to going to look pretty foolish if with these so-called freedom fighters attack Israel. Sometimes the devil you know is better.

Foolish for not propping up a government which was just as likely (if not more) to do it?

High points of hostility in the 2000s included the Ain es Saheb airstrike (an Israeli Air Force mission against Palestinian militants inside Syria) in 2003 and Operation Orchard (an Israeli air and commando mission against Syria's alleged nuclear program) in 2007. During the 2006 Lebanon War, Syria threatened to enter the war on Hezbollah's side, provided support to Hezbollah, and allowed Iran to ship supplies to Hezbollah through its territory. Later, Turkey organized peace talks between the two countries, but Syria later withdrew in response to the 2008-2009 Gaza War.

In 2010, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused Israel of avoiding peace, and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem warned that in the event of a future war, Israeli cities would be targeted by Syrian missiles. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman responded by saying that the Syrian military would be defeated in a war with Israel, and Assad and his family would be forced from power. Lieberman also advised Syria to let go of the demand for the Golan Heights.

[Kuciwalker]

That only makes sense if you're presuming the sole priority of the west is to ensure that no country attacks Israel. I'm very pro-Israel but if the price of Israeli peace is a bunch of other countries being forced to remain under dictatorships then I'm not at all convinced that's a price worth paying. Especially as the reason for much of that Israeli hate is that the dictatorships the US was propping up deflected internal critisism by blaming Israel for all their problems. This is a classic case of pigeons coming home to roost.

Dictatorship is frequently preferable to war for every party, even the oppressed.

[Aeson]

Dictatorship is frequently preferable to war for every party, even the oppressed.

In any revolution against a dictator ... it's obvious that the specific dictatorship in question isn't preferable to at least one party.

[Az]

Started yesterday apparently.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/middle-east-in-turmoil/israel-in-direct-hits-on-syria-targets/story-fn7ycml4-1226515626495

There was a time when firing across that line would have got the world very worried. Does it still matter? Discuss.

It is just signaling, that is all. With the current structure of forces, the current situation in Syria is the best for us, Geo-politically, in my opinion. It ties us significant Hizbullah and IRG forces in the fighting, exposes Iran for being an unscrupulous meddler in Levant political affairs, without actually having the Assad regime fail and set the stage for a Salafi government.

The entire conflict also pits Erdogan against the Iranians.

[DinoDoc]

In any revolution against a dictator ... it's obvious that the specific dictatorship in question isn't preferable to at least one party.

It's a pity they both can't lose.

[dannubis]

It is just signaling, that is all. With the current structure of forces, the current situation in Syria is the best for us, Geo-politically, in my opinion. It ties us significant Hizbullah and IRG forces in the fighting, exposes Iran for being an unscrupulous meddler in Levant political affairs, without actually having the Assad regime fail and set the stage for a Salafi government.

The entire conflict also pits Erdogan against the Iranians.

Something tells me Erdogan didn't need a lot of pitting against the Iranians...

[Az]

well, it all started very amicably between those two when he came to power...