Weekly Commentary: Setting proper war goals if Syria attacks
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 22 February, 2007

In all the IDF's war games, exercises and simulations, which presuppose
thousands of Israeli casualties in a clash with Syria, the aim of the war is
defined in identical terms: to arrive at negotiations with Damascus "from an
advantageous position."
Ready to pay the price
By Amir Oren Haaretz 16 February 2007
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/826609.html

What in the world does this mean?

That the worse case scenario for Syrian president Assad if he murders
thousands of Israelis in a surprise attack is that he might have to agree to
more generous security arrangements - at least on paper - in order to get
the Golan?

Should that be the aim of the war for Israel?

How about the aim of the war being to convince Syria in a swift and decisive
way that Assad made a devastatingly wrong move for his regime by starting
the war in the first place?

How about the aim of the war also being to send a message to the leadership
of the Jewish State's other neighboring nations that war against Israel is
not a good career move?

And if negotiations are a consideration, how about creating conditions under
which Damascus sees fit to concede the Golan to Israel as it has
Alexandretta to Turkey?

It is easy to understand how Israelis who fervently believe that utopian
peace is only a withdrawal away might consider the previous goal acceptable.
But it is the height of irresponsibility to allow Israel's military planning
to be hijacked by what is, at best, an ideological fantasy.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il