War or Not War on The Syrian Front?

Please don't get me wrong. I don't like war. So when I recommend fighting our (Israel's) enemies it's not from a love of fighting.  It's strictly because I want us to live and survive.  It's like chemotherapy and surgery as a cure for cancer.  I've never heard of anyone who enjoys and looks forward to that. But if you want to live in good health, sometimes you must take difficult, unpleasant and risky steps.

As of late, Israel doing just that with Syria on our northern border.  Our military actions there are G-d willing going to prevent that enemy of world peace, Syria, from getting stronger and more dangerous.  Arlene Kushner has been writing some excellent articles about the issue/situation.  Here's the latest.

The original expectation that Syria would not retaliate for Israel's hits inside of that country appears to be holding true:
A Syrian government official has indicated that Syria would not be responding "immediately:  "Syria will respond to the Israeli aggression and will choose the moment to do so. It might not be immediate because Israel now is on high alert.  We will wait but we will answer."
It has been suggested that statements by Israel regarding the need to prevent Iranian weaponry from making its way to Hezbollah provides a possible out for Syria. While indeed, the strikes were on Syrian soil, they weren't intended as attacks on Syria -- which would require a response. (complete article)

And of course the best way to prevent war is prevention.  This Times of Israel article explains that.

photo credit: Yossi Zeliger/Flash90

On June 7, 1981, eight F-16s destroyed Saddam Hussein’s Osirak nuclear reactor in Baghdad. Less than a day later, the government of prime minister Menachem Begin acknowledged that the Israel Air Force was behind the attack, acting on the imperative to prevent an enemy state from obtaining nuclear weapons.

In 2013, three airstrikes were carried out in Syria — one on January 30 and two over the past weekend — that reportedly destroyed weapons convoys on their way to Israel’s enemies in Lebanon. All three attacks were blamed on Israel, but the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained radio silence. (In February, then-defense minister Ehud Barak hinted at Israeli involvement in the earlier strike but stopped short of directly acknowledging it.)  (complete article)

Israel is celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, tonight and tomorrow.  It's now forty-six (46) years since the 1967 Six Days War, when Israel survived a war against three enemy states, Egypt Jordan and Syria.  Their expressed and publicized aim had been to destroy Israel push all Israelis into the sea to die.  This was no surprise attack.  They, Ehypt, Syria and Jordan proudly announced this to all as they gathered their troops. Egypt ordered the United Nations to take away the "peacekeeper" forces that had been stationed just to prevent such an attack. And the United Nations quickly complied with Nasser's demands.

World Jewry prayed and the world stood by, watched and waited to see what would happen.  That's why when I hear those useless, bombastic promises by American leaders to "stand by" Israel if we're attacked, I find no comfort.  I remember what standing by really means.  It's waiting like vultures to pick up the scraps that would be left, G-d forbid, if Israel was to be destroyed. We can't count on anyone, just G-d and ourselves.

There's an Israel Hayom article by Dr. Ronen Yitzchak that discusses how unreliable United States President Barack Hussein Obama and other western leaders are when it comes to following through on their threats.

The West does not really want to intervene

In a December 4 speech at the National Defense University at Fort McNair, Obama said "I want to make it absolutely clear to Assad and those under his command, the world is watching. The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable. And if you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons, there will be consequences and you will be held accountable."

Damascus received warnings from other European leaders as well. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned of a military option should Assad cross the red line and French president Francois Hollande declared unequivocally that "the international community will not stand idly by."

...

This is Obama's moment of truth. The lack of an appropriate military response in Syria will prove to the world, and especially to Iran, that his threats hold no weight. The conclusion is obvious: In the long run, Israel will not be able to rely on Western threats against Iran's nuclear program, because when push comes to shove they could turn out to be empty threats.

The West will not agree with Israel's red line, and will have a hard time admitting it was ever crossed. It will seek compromises and dither -- past the stage when it is possible to act militarily. (complete article)

 

The United States is an enormous country.  Even taking into account, attacks like the Boston marathon bombing, the continued existence of the USA is never in danger.  The same holds for  most of the west, so they haven't a clue as to the security needs of the State of Israel.  And in all honesty, I don't think they care.

The State of Israel must make its security decisions and policy according to what is best for us and not follow any other country's advice.

And will there be a war with Syria?  I don't know. But one thing for sure is that we must weaken them and show no fear.