The NYT is reporting that Israeli forces did, in fact, hit specific targets in their recent air raid.
After days of silence from the Israeli government, American officials confirmed Tuesday that Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes inside Syria last week, the first such attack since 2003. Syria has lodged a protest at the United Nations in response to the airstrike, accusing Israel of “flagrant violation” of its airspace. But Israel’s government has repeatedly declined to comment on the matter.
Looking at this with an analytical eye, we can see why the possibility of this is reasonable to consider. North Korea (NK) is trying to get back into the good graces of the world community after drawing ire from reasonable people, everywhere. They have announced that they will shut down their program. Why would that be so?
Maybe, because they have what they want, now?
With the bulk of the R&D completed, the rush to get into compliance may be precipitating a fire sale. Dumping these excess materials to someone that desperately wants to have them, would not only help them get ready for inspection, they would yield some cash for restocking Kim Jong Il's cognac inventory. When money gets tight, I guess one has to sacrifice a little luxury.
No, I am confident that Israel had a good reason to hit the targets that no one wants to talk about. They are not about bragging, they are about protecting its citizens.
But back to the issue at hand.
NK had a reaction, let's look at part of that reaction:
North Korea lashed out Tuesday at Israel for invading Syrian airspace last Thursday, its official news agency said.
"This is a very dangerous provocation little short of wantonly violating the sovereignty of Syria and seriously harassing the regional peace and security," a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounces the above-said intrusion and extends full support and solidarity to the Syrian people in their just cause to defend the national security and the regional peace," he added.
I cannot help but wonder if they haven't been paid for the materials yet and are trying to politically caress the Syrians here. But yet, it's been known that NK, Iran, and Syria have been missile trading partners, for awhile now. So in essence, I fail to see the big surprise. This alliance isn't new at all and it has been watched.
But watching can only take you so far. When something is seen that threatens the safety and security of a nation, it is at that point, the watching has to stop and the acting has to begin. Evidently, Israel has made its transition from observer to participant. Watching them install whatever they were apparently installing, seemed to concern them enough to act. This is something we sorely need to look at in rest of the Western world, or we may catch fire while watching.
The choice is ours.
ADDENDUM:
VDH has a new essay and as usual, he hits the ball right out of the park. It somewhat pertains to this post's topic (or it will when the world's condemnation machine for Israel gets cranked up, over this affair).
4 comments:
NK's response is interesting. Perhaps it was just a missile site (NK sells those as well), rather than a nuke site. Imagine Syria taking the chance of building nukes - talk about a big risk! They must know Israel wouldn't hesitate to bomb away.
Actually, Israel's behavior in these matters is what's most interesting. The definitely have mastered what the US used to be good at - speaking softly while carrying big stick. Such as when they buzzed Assad's summer home so closely with F-16s that all the windows were blown out. No need to call a news conference and condemn Syria's latest support for terrorism. No need to call a press conference to explain the "fly-by." Everyone gets the message loud and clear though....
Greg,
Whatever they hit, it was something they were not altogether comfortable having around.
They didn't have an endless quagmire of debates, meetings, conferences, focus groups, symposiums, or any such things. They didn't spend a lot of time writing position papers, editorials, et al. No one was trying to win approval of public opinion, either.
Like Nike says, "Just Do It." Well they did it. The condemnations may come, but it's done. The reason more isn't being said it because they may not be done.
Like Nike says, "Just Do It." Well they did it. The condemnations may come, but it's done. The reason more isn't being said it because they may not be done.
wish we'd fought that way in iraq. israel probably wishes it had done so in lebanon last year.
//wish we'd fought that way in iraq.//
I have said it before and I'll say it again. If I had been President, Iraq would be geographically different by now. The Sunni triangle would now rival the Grand Canyon, in size, width, and depth.
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