Longstanding ties remain firm. Both
nations are imperial partners. Naked
aggression is official policy. Regime
change in Syria is planned. Daily events head inexorably toward
full-scale intervention.
The latest incident ups the stakes. On May 4, The New York Times
headlined "Israel Bombs Syria as the US Weighs Its Own Options,"
saying:
An unnamed US official said "Israel bombed a target in Syria
overnight Thursday. (Washington) consider(s its own) military
options, including carrying out (its) own airstrikes."
According to Reuters, "(t)he attack took place on Friday after
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approved it
in a secret meeting on Thursday night…."
These type meetings often precede imminent action. They're held to
approve them.
CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr said "(t)he United
States believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria, two US
officials tell CNN."
US and Western intelligence agencies are reviewing
classified data showing Israel most likely conducted a strike
in the Thursday-Friday time frame, according to both
officials.
This is the same time frame that the US collected additional
data showing Israel was flying a high number of warplanes
over Lebanon.An unnamed Israeli military source said "(w)e will do whatever is
necessary to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to terrorist
organizations. We have done it in the past and we will do it if
necessary the future."
Pretexts are easy to create. Washington and Israel do so to justify
crimes of war and against humanity.
According to the NYT, "(t)he target was not a Syrian chemical
weapons facility…." The same unnamed US official said a building
was struck.
Lebanon's Daily Star said "(e)ight Israeli warplanes violated
Lebanon's airspace in a span of 14 hours, flying over large swarths
of the country, Army officials announced Friday."
Israeli military aircraft do so almost daily. This time was different.
Lebanese overflights were "unusually high." At 7PM local time,
they began.
Two Israeli warplanes entered Lebanese airspace west of Sidon.
They "conducted aerial maneuvers." They left four hours later.
"Ten minutes" before they departed, "another two warplanes
entered entered" Lebanese airspace "west of Jounieh." More
maneuvers followed. They returned to Israel after midnight.
"At 12:35 AM, another sortie of two warplanes entered Lebanese airspace" near
Beirut. They also conducted maneuvers.
They left before 3:15 AM.
"At 6 AM, two more warplanes" overflew
overflew "all Lebanese regions." They left
at 8:50 AM.
Overflying another nation's airspace without authorization violates
international law. Israel does it regularly. Lebanon is violated
virtually daily. Multiple daily overflights happen often. Usually it's
for reconnaissance. Other times it's for targeted strikes or war.
An updated Reuters report headlined "Israel confirms Syria strike,
says hit Hezbollah-bound missiles."
On Saturday, an unnamed Israeli official admitted the airstrike.
Claiming it was to destroy "Hezbollah-bound missiles" doesn't
wash. More on that below.
Mossad-connected DEBKAfile (DF) headlined "Israel Air Force
bombs Syrian chemical and other targets from Lebanon, Golan,"
saying:
Bombing occurred from "Lebanese air space and the Golan starting
Friday and continuing until early Saturday…." According to US
sources, "16 IAF warplanes took part."
"Some sources said the target attacked was a convoy transporting
chemical arms (to) Hizbollah…." Israeli and US sources lack
credibility.
DF said Washington gave Israel "a video demonstration" of its
upgraded bunker buster bomb (Massive Ordnance Penetrator -
MOB).
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported it. It said the Pentagon
did so "to combat Iran." At issue is targeting its "most heavily
fortified and defended nuclear site." Fordow is well protected. It's
deep underground.
US officials see development of the weapon as critical to
convincing Israel that the US has the ability to prevent Iran
from getting a nuclear bomb if diplomacy fails, and also
that Israel's military can't do that on its own.On May 3, Michel Chossdovsky said:
The MOP Massive Ordinance Penetrator is nicknamed the
'mother of all bombs.' Its use would inevitably trigger an
out war against Iran with a scenario of military escalation.In October 2009, "the Pentagon confirmed (its intention) to use the
'Mother of All Bombs' (MOAD) against Iran." Doing so would
cause mass casualties. The upgraded version would cause many
more.
MOABs "are WMDs in the true sense of the word. (Their) hidden
objective (is) mass destruction and mass civilian casualties with a
view to instilling fear and despair."
Perhaps Washington plans using it against Syria for the same
purpose. Longstanding policy is destroying targeted nations. It's
been that way since WW II.
Today's weapons are far more powerful than earlier ones. In short
order, they're able to annihilate humanity entirely. It can happen
whether or not planned.
Details of Israel's latest attack are sketchy. It wasn't the first lawless
IDF action. For sure it won't be the last.
Last November, IDF tanks shelled cross border six times in one
week. Anti-tank missiles and other munitions were used. In
February, Israeli warplanes struck several Syrian targets. Reports
alleged a weapons and munitions convoy heading for Lebanon was
targeted.
Previous articles discussed what happened. They asked why Assad
would send vitally needed weapons and munitions to Lebanon?
It makes no sense. He needs all he can get. If reports were accurate,
evidence would have corroborated them. None was forthcoming.
At the time, DEBKAfile said Obama "green light(ed)" Israel to attack. Doing so revealed
Israel's involvement in Washington's war.
So is NATO. Naked aggression is
longstanding alliance policy. It very much
reflects how Israel and America operate.
Imperial priorities matter most. Rule of law principles are discarded.
War is a way of life. Both nations prioritize it. They're warrior
states. Syria's being systematically ravaged. It may be entirely
destroyed before conflict ends.
Israel's latest attack ups the stakes. It appears nakedly transparent.
On the one hand, Israel's flexing its military muscle. On the other,
it's daring Syria to respond.
Doing so would likely trigger Washington-led NATO full-scale
intervention. Perhaps Israel would get involved. Anything can
happen any time.
An unnamed Israeli Washington embassy spokesman declined
commenting on Friday’s incident.
He said only that "Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of
chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian
regime to terrorists, specially to Hezbollah in Lebanon."
These type statements don't wash. No evidence corroborates
allegations about Syrian chemical weapons use or transfers.
Fabricated claims heighten tensions. Doing so heads things closer to
all-out war. Libya 2.0 appears likely. Launching it could come any
time.
Note:
Early Sunday morning, Israel bombed Syria for the second straight
day. Powerful blasts shook Damascus. Massive fires followed.
Washington and Israel share joint responsibility. Hindsight may
show that these attacks began full-scale intervention. It's too early
to know for sure. A follow-up article will discuss more.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is titled How Wall
Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion
and Class War. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com
and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio
Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and
Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/
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