Syrian War Threats

March 27, 2003

Reinforcing growing concerns in government circles in Jerusalem that a wider regional war may be brewing, Israeli officials are assessing war threats issued by Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, whose oppressive Baath political party is related to Saddam Hussein's ruling party. His alarming remarks were published in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir earlier today.  Syrian troops have occupied Lebanon since 1976. 

"We will not wait until we become the next target," Assad was quoted as saying, insisting that the American-led military attack on Iraq is aimed at other regional countries as well. He called on fellow Arab countries in the region to oppose the allied operation. Most ominously to Israeli officials, he maintained that Jerusalem is plotting with Washington and London to attack his country, which is located northwest of Iraq and northeast of Israel.  He said the Arab world will resist the alleged allied plot to gain control of the entire region: "If the American-British designs succeed--and we hope they do not succeed, and doubt that they will--there will be Arab popular resistance, and this has already begun." Assad, head of a regime that hosts over 12 terrorists groups in Damascus, also predicted that the new Bush-Blair push for a quick post-war peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians will fail. 

As long-time subscribers to these updates will know, I have suspected for some time that the war in Iraq will be longer and more deadly than most Western pre-war scenarios suggested--including US and UK government assessments. I have also felt it could easily spark a serious clash (either immediately or soon after the war) between Israeli and Syrian forces. This might lead to the fulfillment of a prophecy found in Isaiah 17, foretelling the destruction of Damascus and a weakening of Israel, which I have written extensively about in several of my books. Today's threatening comments by Assad seem to indicate that a new Israel-Syria war may indeed be on the horizon.  

I woke up this morning with a strong sense that a large group of American soldiers had been wounded in Iraq. I quickly turned on the television news and was relieved that no such news was being broadcast either by local Israeli channels or by the three all news foreign channels that I receive (CNN, SKY and the BBC). However, the BBC soon broadcast a report that a "friendly fire" incident near the embattled town of Nasiriyah had left "dozens of US forces wounded." However, when the story was not immediately picked up by the other channels, I was hoping it was not the case. Several hours later, the BBC is again broadcasting the report, saying some 37 troops have been wounded in the incident. So far, there is no official confirmation of the disturbing report. It is certainly a fact that most western casualties so far have come from such "friendly fire" incidents.

MOBILE SCUDS

The heavy storm that battered Israel and Iraq this week has now passed, meaning coalition forces have resumed many operations that had to be suspended due to the bad weather. However, other problems have crept up, including fresh mines discovered in the port off of the southern Faw peninsula, preventing coalition civilian relief operations from getting started from there for yet another day. Heavy fighting is also continuing in several areas--including some that coalition forces had thought they had earlier secured. 

Meanwhile Iraqi forces have again fired a missile into Kuwait today--intercepted by a Patriot missile--indicating they are still able to do so one week into the war.  It was at least the tenth missile firing in the past week. This has renewed Scud concerns in Israel, bolstered by reports on Israel's state-linked Channel One that Iraq is hiding deadly Scud missiles in mobile trucks. The reports were attributed to "senior Israeli security officials." Israel is keeping its Ofec spy satellite pointed at Iraq's western desert at all times, to give early warning if Scuds are fired this way. This comes as more and more Israeli commentators opine that the US and UK leadership have apparently initiated a greater battle than they anticipated. Officials here are also very worried over new war threats emanating from North Korea this week, which is closely allied with Syria and Iran. North Korea's despotic regime cut off all contacts with US military commanders on the divided peninsula on Wednesday, claiming that the US is preparing for an imminent invasion of the rogue regime.

I found it quite interesting to hear this morning that Tony Blair's jet was struck by lightning as it was landing in Washington for his meeting with George Bush. I will send out a prophetic assessment of the dramatic developments of the past week in the coming days. In the meantime, I am glad to announce that my new book, HOLY WAR FOR THE PROMISED LAND, is now available for ordering from my web site, http://www.ddolan.com at a special discount price.  It is not yet available in stores. If like many people, you are having trouble figuring out who all of the current players are on the Mideast stage, plus what their history is and what they believe, this is the book for you! The index alone will quickly guide you to many current items in the news, including the Druze, Fedayeen, Shiite Muslims, the background of Saddam, the first Gulf War, regional alliances, Islamic beliefs, and many other important topics featured in the current and future news. Thanks for your prayers.

DAVID DOLAN
Jerusalem

http://www.ddolan.com/new/docs/current/updMar2703.shtml