To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved.

Riiiiiiight.

HH
=================================

New Iranian-Syrian Pact is both Dangerous and an Insult  

W. Thomas Smith Jr.
02 Jun 2008

www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=2140

Iran and Syria continue to slap the West in the face: And they are doing so in the face of the recent unchallenged terrorist attacks by – and subsequent over-the-top concessions granted to – Lebanon-based Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy army supported by Syria.

Fact is, Iran and Syria have achieved a near inextricable foothold in Lebanon (read our previous commentary) over the past few weeks.

Now, the two nations have reinforced — and even expanded — their reciprocal pledge of strategic military support to one another.

According to Naharnet:

“Iran and its close ally Syria have signed a new defence cooperation pact, Iranian media reported on Wednesday, just a week after news broke that Israel had begun indirect peace talks with Damascus.

“’The two countries pledge their mutual support regarding territorial independence and integrity in terms of international and regional authorities,’ the state-run IRNA news agency reported.”

This pact comes on the heels of not only the failure of the Lebanese government and the army (as well as the Western nations allied to Lebanon) to thwart this month’s terrorist attacks and political gains achieved by Hezbollah; but it comes during a series of so-called peace talks between Israel and Syria, in which Syria is now negotiating from a position of new-found strategic strength (Hezbollah’s recent success against the Lebanese state and Israel’s bloody nose from the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war, brings Syria to the table blustering and thumping its chest.).

Israel has been demanding that Syria break “its three-decade alliance with Iran and end support for Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups as a condition for progress in the talks.”

And the U.S. was hoping in a pipe dream that an ongoing peace-process developing between Israel and Syria might isolate Iran.

Fat chance for either.

Fact is, these two state sponsors of Jihadist terrorism and their terrorist proxies, continue playing solid hands, continue threatening to wipe nations off the globe, continue deliberately targeting and murdering civilians, continue to build their armies, continue their quests to become nuclear powers, continue to feint and deceive, continue to infiltrate Western media, continue to extend their global reach, and continue to buy time.

Meanwhile, our response is to continue to support impotent UN forces in the region, station a U.S. Navy strike group in the region (but only permit that force to observe), and one of the American presidential candidates proposing change wants to talk with the bad guys.

I don’t pretend to have the answers: I’m a reporter and an analyst, not a planner. But I do know a little something about confronting and combatting terrorists – conventionally, unconventionally, assymetrically – and building alliances with friends and potential friends who can depend on us to always do exactly what we say we are going to.

I also know, if we – meaning the U.S. and the West – continue on this same trek of effortless “hope”: doing nothing more than observing, issuing hollowless declarations of support, and hoping we might hold peace talks with thugs like Ahmadinejad, Assad, Nasrallah, or anyone else calling for our “deaths,” we will continue to be slapped in the face. And it’s only going to get worse … much, much worse.

They've got Iranian steel in their backs.

Those peaceful Mullahs at it again!

Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved.

The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries.

Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon...

Either you are apart of the UN and abide by it's laws or you don't...You can't have it both ways.  If you remember correctly during Israel's campaign 2 years ago, the UN passed a resolution to for Israel to stop their offensive (especially since they knowingly bombed UN outposts) but the 2 nations of the Security Council (Is & US) vetoed that measure...The truth is no-body wants peace over there.  It's much less profitable

Im not to insulted or surprised.

The Un has caused nothing but trouble by nation building.

Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon...

Please explain how they 'took it illegally.'

HH

Just imagine Barry O' at this card table.

Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon...

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon...

Someone who doesn't agree with you Swede is obviously a troll...Especially since you've been a member for almost 8 months now and I have been here only 3 or 4...You win.

Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon... Either you are apart of the UN and abide by it's laws or you don't...You can't have it both ways.  If you remember correctly during Israel's campaign 2 years ago, the UN passed a resolution to for Israel to stop their offensive (especially since they knowingly bombed UN outposts) but the 2 nations of the Security Council (Is & US) vetoed that measure...The truth is no-body wants peace over there.  It's much less profitable

WTF Over? So, when are we giving back the Eastern USA to Brittian? Hell, that isn't even a decent analogy. According to even the frikin United Nations land taken in a defensive battle is forfeit.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon... Please explain how they 'took it illegally.' HH

How's this

The Golan Heights is Syrian territory militarily conquered by Israel in 1967 and illegally annexed on 14 December 1981. A good map showing the area of occupation can be viewed at:

http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/MAPS/Golan_Heights_West_Bank_under_occupation.htm

The response of the UN (which always refers to the area as "the Syrian Golan Heights") to Israel's territorial gains in 1967 was of condemnation, resulting in Security Council resolution 242 which emphasised the "inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war," and stipulated that a just and lasting peace requires the "withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict." The full text of the resolution can be viewed at:

http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/240/94/IMG/NR024094.pdf?OpenElement

Syria tried unsuccessfully to recover the Golan Heights from Israel in 1973. Both countries signed an armistice agreement in 1974, since when a UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) has been in place on the ceasefire line. The UNDOF website is at:

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/undof/index.html

The Golan Heights were illegally annexed by Israel through the passing by the Knesset (parliament) of the Golan Heights Law on 14 December 1981, thus applying Israeli laws, jurisdiction and administration to anyone living in the territory, irrespective of origin. The text of the law can be viewed at:

http://mondediplo.com/focus/mideast/a2351

In response, the UN Security Council issued resolution 497, "reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions." Furthermore, the resolution:

1. "Decides that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect;"

2. "Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, should rescind forthwith its decision;"

3. "Determines that all the provisions of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since June 1967;"

4. "Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of this resolution within two weeks and decides that in the event of non-compliance by Israel, the Security Council would meet urgently, and not later than 5 January 1982, to consider taking appropriate measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations."

The full text of resolution 497 can be viewed at:

http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/73d6b4c70d1a92b7852560df0064f101?OpenDocument

The UN General Assembly has repeatedly passed resolutions condemning Israel's occupation and annexation of the Golan Heights. The annexation has never been recognised by the UN or accepted by the territory's indigenous population.

A full report on all aspects of the Golan Heights, as well as prospects for Syrian-Israeli peace, is available at:

http://www.arabmediawatch.com/amw/CountryBackgrounds/Syria/GolanHeightsSyrianIsraelipeace/tabid/383/Default.aspx

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon... Someone who doesn't agree with you Swede is obviously a troll...Especially since you've been a member for almost 8 months now and I have been here only 3 or 4...You win.

You've been saying stupid shit for quite some time now. Either you're extraordinarily stupid or you're trolling. Join date has nothing to do with it.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon... Please explain how they 'took it illegally.' HH

Why don't you send a memo to Israel and let them know what you believe?  I'm sure they'll get right to it.

HH

But- but- but- I thought Syria was divorcing itself from Iran's destructive agenda and was coming about to join us in peace, and love, and happiness!

Oh no, wait, that was the idiots in that other thread.

Quoted: Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon... Either you are apart of the UN and abide by it's laws or you don't...You can't have it both ways.  If you remember correctly during Israel's campaign 2 years ago, the UN passed a resolution to for Israel to stop their offensive (especially since they knowingly bombed UN outposts) but the 2 nations of the Security Council (Is & US) vetoed that measure...The truth is no-body wants peace over there.  It's much less profitable

I know this is going to break your heart, but your buddies in Damascus will see their fine city turned into little more than a parking lot - mark my words.

Syria has sown the seeds of destruction and it shall reap the whirlwind.

Quoted: I know this is going to break your heart, but your buddies in Damascus will see their fine city turned into little more than a parking lot - mark my words. Syria has sown the seeds of destruction and it shall reap the whirlwind.

Whatever helps us win the WOT, right?  As long as we are more secure here Becuz that's exactly what will happen.  Let's blow up everyone with different beliefs than those of the majority here in GD.  Whatever Israel wants us to do...They only have more spies caught on our soil than anyone fucking else.  And why doesn't anyone ever bring up Saudi Arabia...You know, where the hijackers came from?  It's always someone else and will never end until everybody is fucked up.

This is exactly how the founding fathers pictured our great country.  In debt beyond our fucking ass and making sure everyone bows to American "interests".

Quoted: Quoted: I know this is going to break your heart, but your buddies in Damascus will see their fine city turned into little more than a parking lot - mark my words. Syria has sown the seeds of destruction and it shall reap the whirlwind. Whatever helps us win the WOT, right?  As long as we are more secure here Becuz that's exactly what will happen.  Let's blow up everyone with different beliefs than those of the majority here in GD.  Whatever Israel wants us to do...They only have more spies caught on our soil than anyone fucking else.  And why doesn't anyone ever bring up Saudi Arabia...You know, where the hijackers came from?  It's always someone else and will never end until everybody is fucked up. This is exactly how the founding fathers pictured our great country.  In debt beyond our fucking ass and making sure everyone bows to American "interests".

Quoted: Quoted: To make matters worse, now Syria is demanding the Golan Heights if any peace is to be achieved. The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. The term is generally used to refer to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, and, until 1979, the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 following the war in 1967, which called for "the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East" to be achieved by "the application of both the following principles:" "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency" and respect for the right of every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. Seems to me like it's theirs to everyone except Israel and the US.  If Israel showed a little willingness to give back some of which they illegally took, then maybe Syria and others would take them seriously, especially after Israel's bombing of Lebanon... Either you are apart of the UN and abide by it's laws or you don't...You can't have it both ways.  If you remember correctly during Israel's campaign 2 years ago, the UN passed a resolution to for Israel to stop their offensive (especially since they knowingly bombed UN outposts) but the 2 nations of the Security Council (Is & US) vetoed that measure...The truth is no-body wants peace over there.  It's much less profitable

So you are saying that Israel illegally forced the Arabs to attack them repeatedly?  It is not Israel's fault that the Arabs instigate and then spectacularly lose war after war with an enemy that they outnumber dozens of times over.