Rumors of war from the Syrian front

Syria is again threatening war:

QUNEITRA, Syria: Syria could resort to armed resistance if peace negotiations fail to make Israel give back the Golan Heights, the Syrian Information Minister said Sunday.

Mohsen Bilal said international negotiations should lead to Israel restituting the occupied Golan Heights territory it took from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed.

He warned that Syria could otherwise resolve to “other means, which struggling people have used at various points in history, beginning with legitimate resistance.”

Normally, I would put in a sarcastic remark along the lines of, “Ooooh, I’m betting Olmert is quaking in his boots.”

But the thing is, once again, I’m seeing signs of the multi-front war. Remember that Syria has re-armed—in record time, and right underneath the noses (gasp! shock!) of the UNIFIL forces—its proxy army, Hezbullah, with Iran’s help. Know that Hamas has been working feverishly to turn Gaza into the same warren of tunnels and ammo dumps as southern Lebanon. And don’t forget that the palestinians in the West Bank have been working on smuggling and perfecting their rockets.

Then there’s the report that 92% of Egyptians see Israel as an enemy state.

There are some of us who are old enough to remember previous multi-front Israeli wars. Caroline Glick may be a doomsayer who believes in going for the worst-case scenario, but the elements of a multi-front war—east, north, south, and west—are all there, just as they’ve always been there.

War is coming. A multi-front war, perhaps as early as next summer.

Syria and Hezbollah are likely to start a war against Israel next summer, according to General Staff assessments that have been gathered during a series of meetings in recent weeks.

While there is no specific estimate concerning the timing of a potential attack, all preparations are being made to ensure maximum preparedness in advance of summer 2007.

The Hezbullah war, specifically Israel’s perceived weakness in refusing to go into an all-out ground war, has emboldened Israel’s enemies. Next summer may be worse than the one that just ended.

I hope not, for my friends’ sakes. But I’m not feeling optimistic.