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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Chilling threat as Syria FM offers to join with Hezbollah if...
2006-08-07
Syria's foreign minister yesterday offered to join militant group Hezbollah in its fight against Israel and said a regional war would be "most welcome" as more than 30 people in Israel and Lebanon were killed on one of the worst days since the conflict began. But as the attempts at diplomacy continued, Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem, defiantly trumpeted his country's support for Hezbollah and warned that Syria was ready for "the possibility of a regional war if the Israeli aggression continues. If you wish, I'm ready to be a soldier at the disposal of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah [the Hezbollah leader]," he said.
"Hassan, we will defend you with our blood!"
“ "If Israel attacks Syria by any means, on the ground, in the air, our leadership ordered the armed forces to reply immediately"
Walid Muallem, Syrian foreign minister ”
He was speaking after crossing into neighbouring Lebanon in the first visit by a senior Syrian official since Damascus - under international and Lebanese pressure - ended a 29-year military presence there last year. Asked if he feared the conflict in Lebanon could spill over into a regional war, Mr Muallem said: "Most welcome. If Israel attacks Syria by any means, on the ground, in the air, our leadership ordered the armed forces to reply immediately," he added. Mr Muallem also lashed out at the draft UN resolution, describing it as a prescription "for the continuation of the war". He said: "It's not fair for Lebanon, therefore it's a plan for the possibility of the eruption of civil war in Lebanon and nobody, nobody, nobody has anything to gain from that happening, except Israel."
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had the following statement for the press: " ..... ."
Posted by:Seafarious

#17  Syria is the easy target but Iran is the meaningful target.

Word, odysseus.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-08-07 20:57  

#16  Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem said: "If you wish, I'm ready to be a soldier at the disposal of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah"

Bill Clinton once said: "The Israelis know that if the Iraqi or the Iranian army came across the Jordan River, I would personally grab a rifle, get in a ditch, and fight and die."

(He didn't mention Syrians, so he would luck out here.)

Do you suppose Walid Muallem is more or less sincere than former President Clinton?
Posted by: eLarson   2006-08-07 15:34  

#15  Would be much easier to wipe out Syria's fighting forces, they wear uniforms.
Posted by: RWV   2006-08-07 12:43  

#14  "If Israel attacks Syria by any means, on the ground, in the air, our leadership ordered the armed forces to reply immediately..."

Really? Kidnap a couple Syrian soldiers and see if Syria is willing to play by the same rules they demand of Israel--complete military restraint. (Course you'd have to find the Syrian soldiers when they're not in women's clothing.)
Posted by: Jules   2006-08-07 12:39  

#13  Oscar is suiting up as we type.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-07 12:21  

#12  Step right up, mouth-boy. The Syrian army would last about 4-5 hours.
Posted by: mojo   2006-08-07 12:09  

#11  Syria is on the Mediterranean. With a little coaxing though, we could place a US Marine base in western Syria, say a 7 mile wide beachhead.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-08-07 10:52  

#10  I think this says Assad is not in control, fearing for his life. He may want to negotiate for protection...get the list for Mossad and we'll arrange a nice vacation spot on the Mediterranean.
Posted by: Danielle   2006-08-07 10:46  

#9  I welcome a regional war. Gets rid of Syria and possibly Iran.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-08-07 10:02  

#8  Note that the regional war is not so welcome that Syria will actually join it...
Posted by: Oldcat   2006-08-07 09:43  

#7  Mr. Assad, guess how long it will take to reduce Damascus to rubble? Here's a hint: Not very f*cking long. Keep it up.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-07 08:53  

#6  The elephant in the room remains seated until November and not a moment later.
Time is running out on Syria and Iran. The twelfth Imam will hatch soon and all hell will break loose. Stay tuned.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-08-07 07:44  

#5  Syria is the easy target but Iran is the meaningful target.
Posted by: Odysseus   2006-08-07 05:34  

#4  ISRAEL AMBASSADOR ON FOX > neither Syria or Iran see any borders between their nations and Lebanon = Israel: IOW, Lebanon doesn't exist as sovereign or independent as far as Damascus andor Tehran is concerned. Where IRAN PER SE is concerned, this view potentially also applies to Syria per se, as well as Jordan per se, pragmatically once Israel surreally goes down for the count. By the ambassador's scope Israel is already fighting against Syria and Iran.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-08-07 03:24  

#3  Bloof. The ruling Alawites know their entire sect will be massacared by the Suni majority if IDF takes their army down.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-08-07 03:03  

#2  Life is not "fair" Syria. It will also become less "Fair" if you keep it up.
Posted by: newc   2006-08-07 02:29  

#1  While he watches the Israelis ... Jordan hits from the south or the US rolls in from IRAQ?

he's far too cocky for a man with no friendly borders.
Posted by: 3dc   2006-08-07 01:31  

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