Officials say they will wait to see if a planned ceasefire transpires and for a sign-off from the US-led coalition.
By Ted Belman
This is idiotic. It sends a very weak message.
What should happen instead, is that the US led coalition should proceed as quickly as possible to enter Syria from Jordan and begin the fight against ISIS, especially in Raqqa, the headquarters of ISIS. This will be easily done since Russia is pre-occupied with re-taking Aleppo.
Once Russia has accomplished her goal, she will be ready to negotiate. The US Coalition will then be in a very strong position to oppose Russia in the rest of Syria. Thus a saw off.
Russia won’t attack the US and the US won’t attack Russia.
If Russia accomplishes her goal she will be emboldened and in a stronger position to demand. Right now she is in an alliance with 2 of the greatest existential enemies of Israel. The best scenario for Israel is a continuing war keeping all the enemies busy and weaker, wearing them all down, keeping them all as weak as possible.
IS is not a direct enemy of the US or Israel and is less a threat than Iran and Hezbullah and they are fighting Iran, Hezbullah… the real and greatest dangerous enemies. The war in syria and the lessening of Assad make Israels hold on the golan firmer both militarily and diplomatically. Why fight IS to strengthen hezbullah and Iran?
We already see the danger of russia in syria with their systems providing air cover and comfort to Israels greatest enemies….. any one fighting them and keeping them busy is good, and better than a win for the 4 allies of russia, iran, syria, hexbullah)
I see no reason for an Israeli to call for the USA, or anyone, to fight IS when IS is fighting the enemies of Israel…
1-Assad not at the Israel border means he cannot claim the Israeli golan
2-a weakened Assad deters him from another nuclear adventure with N Korea and requiring Israel to bomb his reactor with the russian air defense system now there
3- the sunni jihadis have weakened Hezbullah and caused it to spread its forces thin over lebanon, syria and Iraq so if Israel wars with Hezbullah the scenario is better.
4-Turkey and saudi both support IS covertly and in action because without IS there would be NO substantial sunni gains to be negotiated for them. They are only going in as a fig leaf to have IS controlled territory handed to them rather than fall into the hands of Russia, Assad or Iran
5- the status quo, but with the weakening or removal of russia, is better for Israel and IS contributes to that scenario. If the situation continues without a settlement satisfactory to turkey and saudi I expect terror attacks on russian facilities in Syria and in Russia.
6- Yaalon says he prefers IS to Iran, Hezbullah, russia on the Israeli border… and for obvious reasons. A ragtag set of rebels with no national military abilities is far better than the other 3. IS contributes to Hezbullah/Iran being kept off the golan border.
7- If Iran/Hezbullah win in Syria the danger to Israel will increase exponentially, and if they maintain Russian support even worse. This is why I beleive that Israel might be considering increasing their cooperation with Turkey/Saudi agianst the Iran/Russian/Hexbullah/axis.
Saudis do no fight unless their backs are to the Royal Palace. Remember this is a privileged society where only the poor or foreign do physical work or fight.
Turks realize Obama will not back them if they get into with Russia so they are getting real nervous. Turks are big on fighting people with no air forces or navie and only small arms. However if push comes to shove they have the capability to fight with a capable and willing well armed military.
Russia is now backing Kurds (so does USA) and if Turkey pushes Russia to hard you will see SE Turkey on complete fire as the Russian arm the PKK.
The above is sadly a fantasy until the human hemorrhoid lodged in the Oval Orifice is excised.