Israel and Syria - Several news items that look towards Isaiah 17

[Shammu]

Fear of new Mid East 'Cold War' as Syria strengthens military alliance with Russia
August 21, 2008

Kevin O’Flynn in Moscow and James Hider, Middle East Correspondent

Syria raised the prospect yesterday of having Russian missiles on its soil, sparking fears of a new Cold War in the Middle East. President Assad said as he arrived in Moscow to clinch a series of military agreements: “We are ready to co-operate with Russia in any project that can strengthen its security.”

The Syrian leader told Russian newspapers: “I think Russia really has to think of the response it will make when it finds itself closed in a circle.”

Mr Assad said that he would be discussing the deployment of Russian missiles on his territory. The Syrians are also interested in buying Russian weapons.

In return Moscow is expected to propose a revival of its Cold War era naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus, which would give the Russian Navy its first foothold in the Mediterranean for two decades. Damascus and Moscow were close allies during the Cold War but the Kremlin’s influence in the region waned after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yesterday’s rapprochement raised the possibility that Moscow intends to re-create a global anti-Western alliance with former Soviet bloc allies.

Many in Israel fear that the Middle East could once again become a theatre for the two great powers to exert their spheres of influence, militarily and politically. And with Israel and the US providing military backing to Georgia, Russia appears set to respond in kind by supporting Syria.

Already, Israeli observers worry that the chaos in the Caucasus may disrupt gas supplies to Europe and Turkey from the Caspian Sea region, creating a greater energy reliance on Iran and its vast reserves. The crisis could in turn allow Tehran to exploit splits in the international community and use Russia as a backer to advance its nuclear programme. Russia has wooed Syria in recent years, as it has tried to increase its influence in the Middle East and increase arms sales.

Syria and Israel recently confirmed they had been holding indirect talks to reach a peace deal after decades of hostility. Part of Syria’s motivation was to break the international isolation it has suffered for its strategic alliance with Tehran. A closer alliance with a resurgent Russia could afford Mr Assad a way out of any binding commitment. Some Israeli analysts even fear that it could encourage Syria to try to take back the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967, by force.

The Georgia conflict sparked a mocking speech with Cold War rhetoric by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, over the performance of Israeli-trained Georgian troops. One of the Israeli military advisers there was reserve Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch, who commanded a division in Israel’s inconclusive war with Hezbollah in 2006, and who resigned his commission afterwards.

“Gal Hirsch, who was defeated in Lebanon, went to Georgia and they too lost because of him,” the Shia leader taunted. “Relying on Israeli experts and weapons, Georgia learnt why the Israeli generals failed.

“What happened in Georgia is a message to all those the Americans are seeking to entangle in dangerous adventures.”

Fear of new Mid East 'Cold War' as Syria strengthens military alliance with Russia

[Shammu]

Russia sends aircraft carrier to Syria
2008-08-20

The Russian aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov” is ready to head from Murmansk towards the Mediterranean and the Syrian port of Tartus. The mission comes after Syrian President Bashar Assad said he is open for a Russian base in the area.

The “Admiral Kuznetsov”, part of the Northern Fleet and Russia’s only aircraft carrier, will head a Navy mission to the area. The mission will also include the missile cruiser “Moskva” and several submarines, Newsru.com reports.

President Assad in meetings in Moscow this week expressed support to Russia’s intervention in South Ossetia and Georgia. He also expressed interest in the establishment of Russian missile air defence facilities on his land.

The “Admiral Kuznetsov” also last year headed a navy mission to the Mediterranean. Then, on the way from the Kola Peninsula and south, it stopped in the North Sea where it conducted a navy training exercise in the immediate vicinity of Norwegian offshore installations.

Russia sends aircraft carrier to Syria

[Shammu]

U.S. to Syria: Do not meddle in Russia-Georgia conflict
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
22/08/2008

Senior U.S. officials severely criticized Syria on Thursday after Syrian President Bashar Assad voiced his country's support of Russia in its military conflict with Georgia, saying that Syria should keep out of issues that don't pertain to them.

The officials suggested that Syria refrain from meddling in the affairs of other nations, "such as Georgia," Channel 10 reported Thursday. They added that Syria should remain focused on its own problems in the Middle East and keep trying to achieve peace in the region.

Earlier Thursday, Assad backed Russia's military action against Georgia at talks with President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.

Syria, a foe of Israel in the Middle East which stands accused by the United States of supporting international terrorism, is only the second country after Belarus to voice public support for Russia's military operation in Georgia.

"We understand the essence of the Russian position and its military response," Assad told Medvedev at the start of their meeting in the Kremlin leader's Black Sea residence, Bocharov Ruchei.

"We believe Russia was responding to the Georgian provocation," the Syrian president said.

Russia drew Western condemnation, led by the United States, when it mounted a crushing military offensive in response to Georgia's attempt two weeks ago to recapture the rebel, pro-Russian province of South Ossetia.

Moscow says it was forced to act to avert bloodshed in South Ossetia and defend Russian nationals and peacekeepers from the Georgian attack, though Tbilisi says Moscow engineered the conflict.

"I want to express my support for the Russian position in [the breakaway regions of] Abkhazia and South Ossetia....We oppose attempts to tarnish Russia's position," Assad said.

Meanwhile Thursday, Russian media on Thursday quoted Assad as saying ahead of a two day visit to Moscow that Syria was ready to negotiate hosting Russian surface-to-surface Iskander missiles on its soil, which Moscow says are capable of penetrating any missile defense.

Syria is interested in purchasing Russia's Pantsyr-S1 air defense missile system, the BUK-M1 surface-to-air medium-range missile system, military aircraft and other hardware, the Russian news agency Interfax quoted a diplomatic source as saying.

According to Russian media, Assad offered to host the Russian missiles as a response to a deal signed by Washington and Warsaw this week to deploy elements of a U.S. missile defense system in Poland, which has aggravated Moscow's relations with the West.

Assad's visit is likely to become an additional irritant for Washington. In the past, the United States has more than once warned Moscow against selling arms to its longstanding ally Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, asked by reporters about plans to sell Iskander missiles and other modern weapons to Syria, said: "We are ready to consider requests from the Syrian side on buying more arms.

"We are indeed prepared to sell only defensive weapons which are not breaking the regional balance of powers," he said.

Lavrov said arms sales were part of Thursday's talks, but did not elaborate.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni tried to dissuade Moscow from closing arms deals with Syria, telling reporters in Jerusalem "it is a mutual interest of Russia, of Israel and of the pragmatic leaders and states in the region not to send long-range missiles to Syria."

Livni cited Syria's links with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, as reasons to avoid signing any number of rumored arms deals, including deals involving anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems.

U.S. to Syria: Do not meddle in Russia-Georgia conflict

[Shammu]

Lebanese Cabinet endorses ties with Syria

Fri Aug 22, 3:40 PM ET

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's Cabinet has approved the establishment of diplomatic ties with Syria and the opening of a Lebanese embassy in Damascus.

Syria, which controlled its smaller neighbor for nearly 30 years until 2005, agreed earlier this month to open relations and demarcate the border for the first time since both countries gained independence from France in the 1940s. The moves met a long-standing Lebanese demand for Syria to recognize Lebanese independence.

Syria long resisted the ties and only agreed after a political compromise between Lebanon's feuding factions created a unity government where Syrian ally Hezbollah has considerable weight. Its assent also came after a figure seen as relatively friendly to Syria — Michel Suleiman — was installed as Lebanon's president.

Information Minister Tarek Mitri said after a Cabinet meeting late Thursday that Lebanon's foreign minister has been tasked with making arrangements for the embassy. He did not name a date for it to open.

On Friday, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora sent a letter of protest to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about what Lebanon perceived as recent Israeli threats. He urged Ban to inform the U.N. Security Council's member nations of the "seriousness of the Israeli threats," according to Saniora's office.

Lebanon's protest apparently refers to comments this week by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warning that if Hezbollah guerrillas attacked Israel again, it would hit back harder than in the 2006 war.

Olmert said Israel did not use all means to respond then, but "if Lebanon becomes a Hezbollah state, then we won't have any restrictions in this regard."

Saniora told Thursday's Cabinet meeting that "to hear what Israeli officials say, one would think Israel was showering Lebanon with roses during its last aggression."

More than 1,200 Lebanese — most of them civilians — were killed in the 2006 war, which began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed three others in a cross-border raid.

Lebanese Cabinet endorses ties with Syria

[Shammu]

'We'll soon avenge Mughniyeh's death'
Aug. 22, 2008
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

Hizbullah has warned that revenge for the murder in February of its security chief, Imad Mughniyeh, was not far off, and would be "shocking."

"Hizbullah will soon avenge the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh," said Sheikh Ahmad Morad, a member of the Hizbullah leadership in southern Lebanon.

"The revenge will be shocking and huge surprises are in store," he added. "We will not allow Israel and its generals to enjoy stability."

Morad was speaking at a Hizbullah rally in southern Lebanon.

Mughniyeh was killed on February 12 by a car bomb in the heart of Damascus. Israel, which Hizbullah blamed for the assassination, has denied any involvement.

US Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell suggested that Syria or internal Hizbullah factions may have been behind the murder.

The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai, recently quoted Hizbullah sources as saying they would retaliate for Mughniyeh's death by assassinating Israeli leaders.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister's Office issued a renewed warning to Israelis abroad regarding Hizbullah's intent to attack and possibly abduct Israeli citizens around the world.

As part of its recommendations for Israelis, the PMO urged them to be wary of "unusual events," to turn down any tempting offers relating to business or pleasure, to avoid letting suspicious people or unknown visitors into their hotel rooms or apartments, to avoid staying in remote locations - especially after dark, to be accompanied by reliable companions during business meetings and recreational activities, and to avoid a regular pattern of activity during lengthy stays.

Nevertheless, Sheikh Na'im Kassem, Hizbullah's deputy secretary-general, gave a speech in Beirut at the start of August during a conference attended by Lebanese emigrants, in which he called on Hizbullah supporters living abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and not to fight Israel on their soil.

'We'll soon avenge Mughniyeh's death'

[Shammu]

Of course, Islam, "the religion of peace" seems to equate peace with making others fear. One thing us to remember, allah kills, Jesus saves.

[Shammu]

Assad: Next round of Syria-Israel talks will be 'decisive'
By Yoav Stern and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents
24/08/2008

The next round of indirect negotiations between Damacus and Jerusalem will be "decisive," Syrian President Bashar Assad told reporters over the weekend.

Responding to a query as to whether progress had been made during the talks, Assad told reporters: "As of now, we have not reached anything tangible."

The Turkish-mediated negotiations, which were meant to resume this week in Istanbul, have been postponed till next week.

Assad told an Arabic-language television station based in Russia that Syria was not sure Israel was even interested in peace. "I can't say at all that we have confidence [in Israel]."

Syria and Israel have kept secret the details of the indirect talks, which have until now seen several rounds.

While Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had said he sees a chance for direct negotiations in the near future, Damascus has played down these estimations as "too early," given the conditions at hand.

Syria seeks full return of the Golan Heights and Israel has linked a peace agreement to Syria distancing itself from Iran and severing ties with Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Meanwhile, Syria denied on Friday that it was considering hosting an advanced Russian missile system, a day after President Bashar Assad held talks with Russian officials about upgrading his country's military.

Syria's state news agency said deployment of Iskander missiles, which Moscow says are capable of defying any missile defense, was not on the agenda of talks between Assad and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a Black Sea resort on Thursday.

Russian media had quoted Assad as saying that Syria was ready to negotiate deployment of the surface-to-surface mid-range missiles, which can also reach Israel.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Russia was prepared to sell Syria "defensive weapons which are not breaking the regional balance of power."

Syria is interested in Russia's Pantsyr-S1 air defense missile system, the BUK-M1 surface-to-air medium-range missile system and aircraft, Russian agency Interfax quoted a diplomat as saying.

Commentators say they believe the rapprochement between Syria and Russia was aimed mainly at pressuring Israel vis-a-vis its indirect talks with Syria.

In an article posted Saturday on the Asia Times Web site, Syrian political analyst Sami Moubayed, wrote that the concern in Jerusalem is "playing nicely into the hands of Syria, which is using it to strengthen its ties with an old and resurrected friend, send messages to a traditional foe [Israel], and pressure the United States into changing course over Damascus."

U.S. Syria expert Joshua Landis wrote in his blog Syriacomment.com that "Syria's bad negotiating position is leading it to look for more weapons and to try to grow more teeth before returning to the table with Israel," adding, "Both Assad and Hezbollah are hoping to get new weapons systems from Russia and greater diplomatic backing." But despite the preoccupation with weapons, he asserts that all eyes are on the peace process.

Assad: Next round of Syria-Israel talks will be 'decisive'

[Shammu]

Nasrallah: Outcomes of next war will be unambiguous

Published:    08.24.08, 17:36 / Israel News

Hizbullah Secretary-General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said that his movement will decisively react to Israeli aggression against Lebanon. In a ceremony broadcasted on the Hizbullah's television station al-Manar, Nasrallah said that in the next war, his movement will be the overwhelming, clear and unambiguous victor.

He added that the source of Israel’s threats is found in Israeli political clashes between Kadima and the Labor and Likud parties.

Nasrallah: Outcomes of next war will be unambiguous
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They dont deny there is going to be another war. Why would Israel allow them to arm up? If I knew of a nation that wanted to come against my nation, would I allow them ample time to get prepared, or would I strike hard and fast preemptively? 

Depending on the agent delivered in the rocket and how well its dispersed, it could be really nasty, dirty and painful. Many will just be triaged to die in as much comfort as possible.

It seems like the last couple of weeks Hizbullah has really been ramping up the rhetoric. We definately need to be in prayer for Israel.

[HisDaughter]

Hizbullah-Iran-Syria-Lebanon Axis Tightens


Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned this week that his terrorist army is much stronger than before the Second Lebanon War and can destroy Israel. He issued the threat at a Boy Scout ceremony as a response to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's remark last week that "if Lebanon becomes a Hizbullah state, then we won't have any restrictions" in striking the country.

The Prime Minister claimed that during the last war, Israel did not use all of its firepower because the enemy was Hizbullah and not its host country Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has sent United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon a letter protesting Olmert's remarks. Siniora, at a meeting with his Cabinet, accused Israel of "once again… threatening to launch a new attack on Lebanon, forgetting that the [Israeli] occupation was the core of the problem for Lebanon and the region."

The flurry of threats and warnings came two days after a report in the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that three Hizbullah leaders visited Russia in July to clinch a deal involving the purchase of anti-tank missiles and air-defense systems. Israel disclosed evidence during the Second Lebanon War that Hizbullah used advanced Russian anti-tank missiles smuggled from Syria, in violation of previous international agreements.

Nasrallah said, in a speech televised by the Hizbullah-backed Al Manar satellite network, that his arsenal of weapons is so great that "the Zionists will think not one thousand times but tens of thousands of times before they attack Lebanon."

The prospect of an Israeli attack on Iran's growing nuclear threat also played a hand in Hizbullah's latest threats. Mohammed Raad, the head of the terrorist party's political bloc in the Lebanese government, warned, "The first shot fired from the Zionist entity toward Iran will be met by a response of 11,000 rockets in the direction of the Zionist entity. This is what military leaders in the Islamic Republic of Iran have confirmed."

Hizbullah has become a stronger political force in Lebanon since the end of the war two summers ago, winning enough representation in the Cabinet to veto any major decisions.

Syria, which aided Hizbullah in the Second Lebanon War, last week established diplomatic relations with Lebanon for the first time in history, providing Syrian President Bashar Assad with a stronger political base in Beirut's affairs after having withdrawn its military from Lebanon before the 2006 war.

Syria has dominated Lebanese affairs for 30 years, and the West has joined Lebanese opponents of Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs in accusing Damascus of being behind the the 2005 assassination of anti-Syrian former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The new Lebanese government that gives Hizbullah more power assures Syria that it still can influence affairs in Lebanon, with the naming of Michel Suleiman as president. He is close to Syria and was the Lebanese army chief for 10 years during the Syrian army's control of the country.

"It's a win-win situation," said Patrick Seale, a British expert on Syria told the Associated Press. "The Lebanese get diplomatic recognition and the Syrians get recognition of vital interests in Lebanon."

[Shammu]

Hizbullah-Iran-Syria-Lebanon Axis Tightens

Posted here sister......................... Hizbullah-Iran-Syria-Lebanon Axis Tightens 

[HisDaughter]

Posted here sister......................... Hizbullah-Iran-Syria-Lebanon Axis Tightens 

Then I will defer to my post today in "Laughter", line numbers: 2,9,10 & 13 in my defense...

[Soldier4Christ]

Then I will defer to my post today in "Laughter", line numbers: 2,9,10 & 13 in my defense...

Does that include everyone that does the same thing? 

[HisDaughter]

Does that include everyone that does the same thing? 

It certainly could!  I love the line in that old Waylon Jennings song: "I Always Been Crazy But It's Kept From Going Insane"!   

[Soldier4Christ]

 

[Shammu]