Some reminders on Syria

"Israel can shape its strategic environment...by weakening, containing, and even rolling back Syria. This effort can focus on removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq — an important Israeli strategic objective in its own right — as a means of foiling Syria’s regional ambitions."
-- "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm," 1996 policy paper for the incoming Netanyahu government, authored by, amongst others, Richard Perle and Douglas Feith

"Iraq, the hawks argue, is just the first piece of the puzzle. After an ouster of Hussein, they say, the United States will have more leverage to act against Syria and Iran, will be in a better position to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and will be able to rely less on Saudi oil."
-- "Iraq War Hawks Have Plans to Reshape Entire Mideast," Boston Globe, September 10, 2002

"Top Pentagon and White House officials...have mulled a 'post-Saddam pivot' that would make Syria — also on the U.S. list of terrorist-sponsoring states and a longtime enemy of Israel — the next focus of U.S. action in the Middle East, said the officials, most of whom requested anonymity."
-- "Attack on Iraq may only be start," Knight Ridder Newspapers, October 21, 2002

I have little patience for the argument that Israel is doing what it needs to defend itself with its attack on Syria today. If it has evidence that Syria is participating or supporting attacks against its sovereignty, then Israel should bring those grievances before the United Nations. There should be no tolerance for acts of aggression directed at any state.

Whether Sharon is trying to start a larger confrontation in the region is anyone's guess at this point, but the above reminders suggest that we should be very suspicious about what's going on here.