Parallel Secur ity
Jokes
September 12, 2007
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
As I indicated in several previous blogs, the main purpose for the recent intrusion into northern Syrian airspace was to test various maneuvers and technical applications of F-151 avoidance systems to avoid detection by the latest Russian systems, which were recently acquired by Syria to protect its northern Scud launch sites, and by Iran to protect its nuclear development complex. It appears the mission was a success.
The article which follows by Yoan Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, tells of a joke about the many Scud Missile Sites, widely scattered across northern Syria to avoid a wipe out by closeness of juxtaposition to one another. There was a similar joke floating around our USAF Bases in the sixties to the eighties. All the Russians had to do to locate our many missile silos scattered around some of our bases, was to simply follow the clearly marked Air Force blue vehicles that carried relieving missile crews from the base to the road that led
off the main highway to the silo.
Begin Haaretz Article
Analysis: Syria fumes as the rest of the Arab world stays silent
September 10, 2007
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
There is a joke in Damascus about a bus that carries passengers to distant parts of the country. In every town where the bus stops, the driver announces its name and opens the door to let passengers on or off. Between two villages, he stops and cries out: “Secret missile base.” At that point, two soldiers disembark.
Public op inion
in Syria, and in the Arab world in general, is demanding detailed explanations. It is hard to gauge Syrian public opinion from a distance, but the Internet exposes some of what Syrian citizens are feeling.
“For 60 years, we have heard the slogan that a war will not be imposed on us at a time and place that is not suitable for us,” an Arab Internet surfer wrote last week, echoing analysts’ statements. On the web site of the official daily Al-Thawra, another wrote: “Would not the best timing and the most appropriate response be to shoot down one of the attacking aircraft?”
Meanwhile, official Damascus is slowly preparing for a diplomatic offensive. Senior Syrian officials are counting their friends. The official Syrian news agency SANA is collating every condemnation: political parties from Yemen, individuals from Lebanon, the Arab League, some lukewarm statements from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
On Sund ay, Liby
a joined in, with a Foreign Ministry source calling for a unified Arab stance – which seems to be more distant than ever.
There is considerable frustration
in Damascus that key Arab countries have not bothered to denounce Israel and express their support for Syria.
The editor-in-chief of the daily Tishrin, Isam Dari, reflected this frustration.
In an editorial on Saturday, he wrote that what is disheartening is not what the enemy is doing, but the response of Syria’s Arab brothers. “They remain silent in face of Israeli piracy, as if this had happened on Mars or Jupiter,” he said.
The fact that countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Gulf states and the Maghreb states have not expressed their support for Syria reflects its isolation in the Arab world. These countries, often termed “moderate,” have major differences with Syria – not only about Lebanon, but also about its strategic decisions, particularly its alliance with Iran, which they consider a threat to the Arab world in general.
Nonetheless, all the states in the region, including Israel, are still waiting for a clear Syrian response. Will it make do with a passive reaction through diplomatic channels, or will it opt for something else? Past experience suggests that Syria will avoid direct confrontation with Israel at any price.
The border between the two has been Israel’s calmest ever since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Syria’s advantage lies elsewhere: In recent years, it has put together a long list of dubious allies that serve as subcontractors for its military operations.
Thus one possibility is that Syria’s response to the Israeli challenge will take a different form and come from in a different place.
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