ISRAEL: Why Syria Can't Stop the Israeli Air Force

[bemildred]

October 6, 2003: Syria is asking the UN to condemn Israel for
bombing the terrorist camp in Syria. This raises the embarrassing
issue of continued Syrian support for terrorism. To many nations,
terrorism against Israel is OK, but terrorism against themselves is not.
Because of the hypocrisy of this position, most nations would rather
just look the other way and do nothing. This attitude will probably
continue.

Syria did not respond militarily to the Israeli attack. Syrian air defenses
were unable to stop the Israelis. This spotlights the growing disparity
between Arab and Israeli military power. In the last few decades, Arab
military power has hardly grown at all, despite billions of dollars spent.
Israel, however, has developed world class military electronics and
weapons industries and armed itself with equipment that even the US
buys.

Since the end of the Cold War, Syria has no longer received Russian
military aid. The Syrian economy is strangled by the Baath Party
dictatorship and there is no money to buy a lot of military gear. Thus
for the last 12 years, the Syrian armed forces have been slowing
declining in capabilities.

But in Israel, the latest attack just strengthens the resolve to defeat
the terrorists. The security wall will continue and, in effect, the
Palestinian territories will be walled off and impoverished because of
lack of economic contact with Israel.

StrategyPage.Com

[kalian]

1. Ah yes...

but please remember that Syria poses a "serious threat" to Israel.
:eyes:

[Fozzledick]

4. It's precisely BECAUSE they're afraid to face Israel in open battle

that they've resorted to spounsering terrorism instead. That way the Palestinians suffer the consequences of their attacks while they deny responsibility. It looks like the Israelis finaly got tired of letting them get away with it.

[beanball]

2. Terrorist

or terrorism only apply to arabs,the media just add fuel to this fire,it seems the americans and the israeli never terrorize arabs.

[rini]

3. Thank you for

recognizing and stating that fact.

[number6]

5. that certainly is NOT a fact

oh really, the Arabs and Palestinians have not been terrorized.

!! BULL !! eh oh yea they can only be shocked n awed or
bull dozed or something..:eyes:

[Fight_n_back]

6. An analysis I heard today

speculated that the Israelis knew it was an empty base and the message was essentially "You can do nothing to stop us so cut it out".

[tinnypriv]

7. Where was that?

[Fight_n_back]

9. Talk of the Nation

NPR

[tinnypriv]

10. Thanks

Always nice to have your own views reinforced. :) I'll go listen.

[bemildred]

8. Well, I'm curious.

That's why I posted this piece. There is a non-sequitur
in the statement: Syria did not respond militarily to
the Israeli attack. Syrian air defenses were unable to stop
the Israelis.

It seems clear there was no response, no attempt at air defense.
That could be because of the element of surprise or it could be
a calculated decision to wait and see what was up.

It doesn't follow that such an attempt would be futile, and I
was under the impression Syria has some advanced SAMs, which
would be the defense of choice, since I gather their aircraft
are not up to snuff.

So I wondered if anyone has any insight into whether it is
really the case that Syria would have no means to defend against
Israeli air attack?