Syrian’s been vewy, vewy quiet about the Israeli mission in Syria, except for a bit of bluster about how the great Syrian air force frightened the IAF away (try not to laugh, those of you who know about the 1982 air battle where Syria lost 86 planes to, ah, zero Israeli planes).
But now someone’s pointing out that Syria may have violated the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
“Syria is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and as such, is barred from receiving any aid that may be used in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons,” said Dr. Robbie Sabel, an expert on international law from the Hebrew University, to Ynet this weekend.
If Syria did indeed receive such aid, said Dr. Sabel, “then it is in blatant violation of the treaty. If that is what has transpired, then Syria may be sanctioned to prevent any further development of weapons, as was done with Iraq and as may be done with Iran.”
Of course, it may also be sheer embarrassment that the mighty new weaponry provided by Iran and Russia didn’t work against the IAF. Or maybe it’s both. In any case, sucks to be Syria right now.
If they’ve violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, I’m sure they’re quaking in their boots at the strongly-worded statement that may be forthcoming from the U.N.
This might be the reason for “the big hole in the desert” mentioned before. They are probably worried that the IAF would attat the UN “strongly worded statement” to some bombs for delivery. Syria is a lot easier to hit than Iran.
It has always sucked to be Syria. The only prayer they have of changing that would be if they came to their senses, recognized Israel and began full diplomatic and trade relations. Of course, then it would suck to be the leader of Syria so you can forget about this happening as long as the Assad gang is in power.
I am glad for these events too. The problem is that this delays the inevitable, these people are going to keep trying. Yes, I know Israel will keep responding, but, for example — what if they had waited to obtain all 36 SAM sites before moving in the nuclear material.
Don’t think I am not happy — BUT! what is needed is something more.
Just a by-the-way: If Israel could know when these “concrete carrying” vessels were on the high seas (or say, in the Med, where the cargo could be examined later,) Israel might deem it much safer to take out the transport vehicles rather than waiting.
And afterward, upon hearing all the loud complaining noises, a radioactive monitor dropped into the Mediterranean could prove what all that “concrete” really was.
I’m sure that wiser men than will debate such options.
In the meantime let’s thank the G*d of Abraham that every IAF pilot made it home safely.
Academics crack me up:
Sanctions in response to building nuclear weapons? And pointing to Iraq as an example of what that means? I guess he has conveniently forgotten the fact that Saddam did nothing in response to sanctions (other than bribing European heads of state via the oil-for-food program).
The only valid response to Syrian nukes is to blow them up before they are deployed.