[Dean's World] Dave Price: War, What Is It Good For?

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
War, What Is It Good For?
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1183658109.shtml


   [1]Incredibly poor reasoning from the LA Times, in arguing the U.S.
   needs to "talk" to Syria to "avoid war":

     War fears have been fanned by a notable Syrian arms buildup.
     Damascus has purchased surface-to-surface missiles, antitank
     weapons and sophisticated air-defense systems. It is also believed
     to have received Iranian funds to pay Russia for missiles and a
     reported $1-billion purchase of five advanced MIG-31E fighter jets.
     Syria denies Israeli reports that it is rearming Hezbollah, whose
     weapons stores were depleted during its war with Israel last
     summer. But a recent report to the U.N. Security Council warned
     that poor security along the Syrian-Lebanese border allows arms
     smuggling to Hezbollah to continue.
     ...
     Meanwhile, opportunities mount for miscalculation. Israel does not
     want to appear weak in the eyes of Syria, nor does it want Damascus
     to fear an Israeli attack. Syria might not want war either, but it
     has reason for paranoia given its provocative role in supporting
     the Fatah al Islam militants and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

   Paranoia? Gee, maybe if the Syrian stopped provoking a war, they
   wouldn't have to worry about having a war. This is like arguing the
   Japanese had "reason for paranoia" after attacking Pearl Harbor. Given
   that they've just finished conducted a proxy war against Israel
   through Hizbollah, I'd say Syria's position on whether they want war
   is pretty damned clear.
   Interestingly, the editorial totally fails to mention Syria's real
   worry: the [2]Hariri tribunal is going to declare Syria's thugocracy
   an outlaw regime. They're certainly not above creating a war as a
   distraction from their descent into pariah state status.

References

   1. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-syria5jul05,0,4466828.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail
   2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Tribunal_for_Lebanon