Comments on: Syria’s Latest “Peace” Overture – by P. David Hornik http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/09/syria%e2%80%99s-latest-%e2%80%9cpeace%e2%80%9d-overture-by-p-david-hornik/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:37:18 +0000 hourly 1 By: USMCSniper http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/09/syria%e2%80%99s-latest-%e2%80%9cpeace%e2%80%9d-overture-by-p-david-hornik/comment-page-1/#comment-8557 USMCSniper Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:57:53 +0000 http://frontpagemag.com/?p=41172#comment-8557 Syria remains Israel’s principal immediate military threat. In the past three years, Syria has spent more than $3 billion on weapons, up from less than $100 million in 2002. Even as reports disclosed that Syrian and Israeli officials were engaged in peace talks mediated by Turkey, the Syrian Defense Minister was in Iran discussing strengthening military ties. “Iran and Syria share the same viewpoint regarding regional issues and efforts will be made to strengthen our shared interests and bilateral relations," said Hassan Turkmani, who was dispatched to Tehran after Iranian officials condemned the resumption of negotiations with Israel.<br><br>Syria has reportedly received $1 billion from Iran in 2007-8 to buy surface-to-surface missiles, rockets, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft systems. According to Haaretz (March 21, 2008), “Israel has learned that Syria is buying more missiles than tanks, on the assumption that attacking the Israeli home front would deter Israel on the one hand, and help to determine the war on the other.”<br><br>A Syrian delegation visiting Moscow in May 2008 was reportedly seeking a variety of new weapons systems that Israel views as threatening. Israel is particularly concerned with a Syrian request for long-range S-300 surface-to-air missiles that could threaten IAF jets flying on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights. Syria also reportedly wants MiG 29 fighter jets and the Iskander surface-to-surface missile system, which is a longer range and more accurate missile than the ballistic missiles currently in Syria's arsenal. The Syrian navy, which currently has no submarines, is apparently also looking to purchase two Amur-1650 submarines from Russia. The dramatic increase in military spending and effort to significantly upgrade its military capability is one more reason Israelis are skeptical about Syrian intentions. Syria remains Israel’s principal immediate military threat. In the past three years, Syria has spent more than $3 billion on weapons, up from less than $100 million in 2002. Even as reports disclosed that Syrian and Israeli officials were engaged in peace talks mediated by Turkey, the Syrian Defense Minister was in Iran discussing strengthening military ties. “Iran and Syria share the same viewpoint regarding regional issues and efforts will be made to strengthen our shared interests and bilateral relations,” said Hassan Turkmani, who was dispatched to Tehran after Iranian officials condemned the resumption of negotiations with Israel.

Syria has reportedly received $1 billion from Iran in 2007-8 to buy surface-to-surface missiles, rockets, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft systems. According to Haaretz (March 21, 2008), “Israel has learned that Syria is buying more missiles than tanks, on the assumption that attacking the Israeli home front would deter Israel on the one hand, and help to determine the war on the other.”

A Syrian delegation visiting Moscow in May 2008 was reportedly seeking a variety of new weapons systems that Israel views as threatening. Israel is particularly concerned with a Syrian request for long-range S-300 surface-to-air missiles that could threaten IAF jets flying on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights. Syria also reportedly wants MiG 29 fighter jets and the Iskander surface-to-surface missile system, which is a longer range and more accurate missile than the ballistic missiles currently in Syria's arsenal. The Syrian navy, which currently has no submarines, is apparently also looking to purchase two Amur-1650 submarines from Russia. The dramatic increase in military spending and effort to significantly upgrade its military capability is one more reason Israelis are skeptical about Syrian intentions.

]]> By: welldoneson http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/09/syria%e2%80%99s-latest-%e2%80%9cpeace%e2%80%9d-overture-by-p-david-hornik/comment-page-1/#comment-8543 welldoneson Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:28:57 +0000 http://frontpagemag.com/?p=41172#comment-8543 "different pretexts are given for not negotiating with Syrian President Bashar Assad: His government bankrolls terror attacks, it’s in a strategic alliance with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, all he wants is to dip his toes in the Kinneret [i.e., regain the eastern shore of Lake Kinneret for Syria], and so on."<br>---<br>That doesn't sound like anybody trying to persuade readers that Syria is reaching out while Israel is stonewalling. Sounds more like a list of reasons to attack Syria militarily. Really an "own goal" by the left - they seem to be doing that a lot lately, not just in the MidEast but generally. “different pretexts are given for not negotiating with Syrian President Bashar Assad: His government bankrolls terror attacks, it’s in a strategic alliance with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, all he wants is to dip his toes in the Kinneret [i.e., regain the eastern shore of Lake Kinneret for Syria], and so on.”
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That doesn't sound like anybody trying to persuade readers that Syria is reaching out while Israel is stonewalling. Sounds more like a list of reasons to attack Syria militarily. Really an “own goal” by the left – they seem to be doing that a lot lately, not just in the MidEast but generally.

]]> By: keithrage http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/09/syria%e2%80%99s-latest-%e2%80%9cpeace%e2%80%9d-overture-by-p-david-hornik/comment-page-1/#comment-8497 keithrage Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:37:32 +0000 http://frontpagemag.com/?p=41172#comment-8497 How could anyone trust the words of Assad, he loves to play the double dealing game while the people of Syria live in the dust. A good tree is known by its fruit. How could anyone trust the words of Assad, he loves to play the double dealing game while the people of Syria live in the dust. A good tree is known by its fruit.

]]> By: Robert Bernier http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/09/syria%e2%80%99s-latest-%e2%80%9cpeace%e2%80%9d-overture-by-p-david-hornik/comment-page-1/#comment-8481 Robert Bernier Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:13:20 +0000 http://frontpagemag.com/?p=41172#comment-8481 The Terrorist State of Syria.<br>Israel cannot be reconciled with the Mafia regime of Assad. Syria will wait till the moment that it sees chances of defeating Israel. Syria cannot efford good relations with Israel.<br>The Assad family has established a hereditary dynasty shored up by repression within, and confrontation and terror abroad. The rule of the Assads is not aimed at improving the lot of their people or forwarding a particular ideology. They changed ideology from secular Arabism to a seemingly impossible confection of pan-Arabism and Islamist extremism because it was expedient to do so. Hafez Assad came to power following a dizzying succession of coups that had made Syria the most unstable regime in the Middle East. The Assads are seated atop a bucking bronco. They are members of the Allawi religious minority who are usually not even considered to be Muslims. They rule a country of disparate minorities with a potential for chaos almost as great as that of Iraq. The radical Muslim Brotherhood is always there, threatening to take over the country by fair means or foul, and the usual Ba’th party rivalries that have plagued all such regimes are also a threat to Assad family rule. <br>Their rule is not about improving living standards for Syria. Syrian living standards have fallen behind the none-too-glamorous ones of Jordan or Egypt. It is not about democracy, a Western luxury Syria can’t afford, according to Bashar Assad. The Assad regime is about stability, and it is about money and power for the Assad family. The regime is comparable in every way to the fictional Corleone Mafia family. <br>Prosperity and peace would ruin the Assad regime. Therefore, Western assumptions that Syrian leadership must want peace and prosperity are mistaken, and it is pointless to “engage” Syria in dialogue except insofar as it is possible to confront them with their violations and insist that they mend their ways as explained at : <a href="http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2007/12/truth-about-syria.html" rel="nofollow">http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2007/12...</a> The Terrorist State of Syria.
Israel cannot be reconciled with the Mafia regime of Assad. Syria will wait till the moment that it sees chances of defeating Israel. Syria cannot efford good relations with Israel.
The Assad family has established a hereditary dynasty shored up by repression within, and confrontation and terror abroad. The rule of the Assads is not aimed at improving the lot of their people or forwarding a particular ideology. They changed ideology from secular Arabism to a seemingly impossible confection of pan-Arabism and Islamist extremism because it was expedient to do so. Hafez Assad came to power following a dizzying succession of coups that had made Syria the most unstable regime in the Middle East. The Assads are seated atop a bucking bronco. They are members of the Allawi religious minority who are usually not even considered to be Muslims. They rule a country of disparate minorities with a potential for chaos almost as great as that of Iraq. The radical Muslim Brotherhood is always there, threatening to take over the country by fair means or foul, and the usual Ba’th party rivalries that have plagued all such regimes are also a threat to Assad family rule.
Their rule is not about improving living standards for Syria. Syrian living standards have fallen behind the none-too-glamorous ones of Jordan or Egypt. It is not about democracy, a Western luxury Syria can’t afford, according to Bashar Assad. The Assad regime is about stability, and it is about money and power for the Assad family. The regime is comparable in every way to the fictional Corleone Mafia family.
Prosperity and peace would ruin the Assad regime. Therefore, Western assumptions that Syrian leadership must want peace and prosperity are mistaken, and it is pointless to “engage” Syria in dialogue except insofar as it is possible to confront them with their violations and insist that they mend their ways as explained at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2007/12…

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