Sunday, February 18, 2018 6:50:29 PM
Amid the chaos of Syria, will Israel and Iran launch an all-out war?
"Netanyahu Lashes Out as Israeli Police Wrap Up Graft Inquiries"
Neither country will benefit from a new Middle East conflict, but unless they cease military
clashes, such as those inside Syria last weekend, hopes of peace remain fragile
Simon Tisdall
Sun 18 Feb 2018 11.05 AEDT
The remains of a missile that landed in the southern Lebanese village of Kaoukaba,
near the border with Syria, after Israel’s military attacked 12 Syrian and Iranian
targets inside Syria on 10 February. Photograph: Ali Dia/AFP/Getty Images
Tensions between Israel and Iran have hit a new high following last weekend’s unprecedented military clashes inside Syria. The fighting has intensified fears that the Middle East is heading for all-out war. But such alarming predictions assume both protagonists standing toe-to-toe, actuallywant to fight. Is this reallytrue?
Iran is portrayed as a wanton aggressor, especially by the Trump administration and the Saudis. It has steadily expanded its military presence in Syria since supporting Bashar al-Assad after 2011, deploying Afghan and Pakistani Shia militias, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and its own Revolutionary Guards.
[...]
While sympathetic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, is usually obliged to retain some sort of balance with pragmatist factions represented by Hassan Rouhani, the popularly elected, two-term president. Recent street protests were a reminder that the cleric-led regime is vulnerable to pressure from within. The demonstrations were primarily about economic grievances, but Iran’s costly involvement in foreign conflicts such as Syria and Yemen is a sore point. A new regional war could be political suicide for the regime.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, front, is a pragmatic balance to Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images
Iran’s leaders, right and left, know open conflict with Israel would give Trump the excuse he yearns for – to tear up the nuclear deal, reimpose swingeing sanctions, gang up with Saudi Arabia, and possibly order military intervention. Some in Iran would welcome a showdown with the Great Satan. Most would not.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/18/amid-chaos-syria-will-israel-iran-launch-all-out-war
IMO, there is no doubt in the world that most in all countries do not want war. After
all, it is the most powerful who suffer the least danger from war. Right or wrong?
"Netanyahu Lashes Out as Israeli Police Wrap Up Graft Inquiries"
Neither country will benefit from a new Middle East conflict, but unless they cease military
clashes, such as those inside Syria last weekend, hopes of peace remain fragile
Simon Tisdall
Sun 18 Feb 2018 11.05 AEDT
The remains of a missile that landed in the southern Lebanese village of Kaoukaba,
near the border with Syria, after Israel’s military attacked 12 Syrian and Iranian
targets inside Syria on 10 February. Photograph: Ali Dia/AFP/Getty Images
Tensions between Israel and Iran have hit a new high following last weekend’s unprecedented military clashes inside Syria. The fighting has intensified fears that the Middle East is heading for all-out war. But such alarming predictions assume both protagonists standing toe-to-toe, actuallywant to fight. Is this reallytrue?
Iran is portrayed as a wanton aggressor, especially by the Trump administration and the Saudis. It has steadily expanded its military presence in Syria since supporting Bashar al-Assad after 2011, deploying Afghan and Pakistani Shia militias, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and its own Revolutionary Guards.
[...]
While sympathetic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, is usually obliged to retain some sort of balance with pragmatist factions represented by Hassan Rouhani, the popularly elected, two-term president. Recent street protests were a reminder that the cleric-led regime is vulnerable to pressure from within. The demonstrations were primarily about economic grievances, but Iran’s costly involvement in foreign conflicts such as Syria and Yemen is a sore point. A new regional war could be political suicide for the regime.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, front, is a pragmatic balance to Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images
Iran’s leaders, right and left, know open conflict with Israel would give Trump the excuse he yearns for – to tear up the nuclear deal, reimpose swingeing sanctions, gang up with Saudi Arabia, and possibly order military intervention. Some in Iran would welcome a showdown with the Great Satan. Most would not.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/18/amid-chaos-syria-will-israel-iran-launch-all-out-war
IMO, there is no doubt in the world that most in all countries do not want war. After
all, it is the most powerful who suffer the least danger from war. Right or wrong?
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
