Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mit-vax.UUCP Path: utzoo!lsuc!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!qantel!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!mit-vax!oaf From: oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Abu Nidal and Libya -- barking up the wrong tree Message-ID: <70@mit-vax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 14:09:36 EST Article-I.D.: mit-vax.70 Posted: Wed Jan 15 14:09:36 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 21:00:06 EST Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 143 Keywords: Coward, liar, genocide, scapegoat, idiot, Chomsky Summary: Eduardo Krell wins The brave commandoes who heroically attacked filthy Israeli spies (and their American running-dog lackeys) in Roma and Wien airports did NOT owe allegiance to the glorious Libyan People's Republic (and its illustrious research bureau) but to the great cause of the Palestinian people in its historic struggle with the Zionist entity and its American master, the great Shaitan, of which more later. [Translation: It was a dark and stormy night.] True, Libya may have helped with a leetle misdirection [passports lifted from Tunisian spies last summer], but the point of departure was Lebanon, and the guiding force and source of arms was SYRIA. It sorta stands to reason, no? Nothing happens in Lebanon except at Syrian sufferance. Also, the US and Israeli intelligence services report that that's where the blame - er, credit - resides. Aint that what we pays them for? ------------------------------ So why doesn't the US attack Syria? Two reasons: 1. We are scared to death of the USSR, because Reagan unwisely chose to invest more in strategic weapons (of which there are already plenty) and less in conventional deterrence. For this, the Soviet moles in the cabinet and defense department can take well-deserved credit. WITH GOOD REASON -- in anything short of nuclear confrontation, they can crunch us, and they know we know it. Syria is closely allied with the USSR, and an attack on her can be expected to call down a heavy Soviet response. 2. The Syrians are playing Americans against themselves, on the one hand supporting heroic Palestinians in their angelic defense of homeland and dignity (coincidentally being the Soviet cat's paw), on the other "trying to convince" armed factions in Lebanon to release some 6 or so American citizens held in custody. Dimwit that he is, Reagan is utterly incapable of finding his way out of that trap. Assad is a chess player, and has hamstrung the entire US state department. The US doesn't stand a chance, except maybe upsetting the chessboard. [Pass the fried continent when you're finished with it.] ------------------------------ So why doesn't Israel attack Syria? Several reasons: 1. They are scared to death of the USSR, because Reagan unwisely chose to invest more in ... (you know the rest), so the US can't counterbalance a Soviet response to their moving on Syria. [chorus] 2. It's too late - since Israel invaded Lebanon and squooshed the Syrian/Soviet SAM system the latter have rebuilt with a vengeance. But the Lebanon invasion was such a pyrrhic victory militarily, and utter defeat politically, that the Israelis been unwilling to try preventive raids on Syria's growing air-defense system. Syria is now so strong that the only way to hit them and make it vala la pena is a full-scale invasion. Serious stuff - where's the excuse? Anyway, it won't happen. The Soviets can't be bluffed again. Thanks, Ronnie! 3. As mentioned above, Assad is a chess player. He can be counted on to keep a clear head. Israel has a chance of convincing him that some form of coexistence is the way to go; if it does so, Assad will cheerfully go for a de facto peace, even given a de jure state of confrontation. Note that Assad is doesn't hesitate to kill off Islamic fundamentalists (Hama 1981) or Palestinians (Lebanon 1975-86). For an example of similar "friendly" neighbors, check out King Hussein of Jordan. For a more limited example, check out king Fahd of Saudi Arabia - he knows how to kill Moslem fundamentalists too. Nice thing about dictatorial governments: If they're well-managed, they make pretty solid neighbors or even allies, something our bleeding-heart liberal contributors don't understand. (Of course, it's a high-Q circuit - if poorly managed they're prone to catastrophic failure, unlike parliamentary demokrakies. Example: Iran.) 4. If you believe Noam Chomsky, Israel WANTS her opponents to be fanatical terrorists - that buys political leverage for her [genocidal? theocratic? terroristic? nuclear-crazy? foolish? cute? slave to American dictates?] policies at home and abroad. Why cut off the flow of wonderful homicidal maniacs and lose that great source of internal public acquiescence, that great excuse for American military aid, that terrific supply of popular sympathy in Europe and among the dirt farmers of Tibet? After all, Israel is dedicated to world domination, being ready to sacrifice every drop of its citizens' blood to re-establish old testicle biblical dominance - what's a few civilians more or less, as long as their deaths serve the murderous political programme? [I SAID "if you believe Noam Chomsky." Sheesh!] ------------------------------ So what's gonna happen? The Israelis will go home and lick their wounds - they can't do anything. If you believe Noam Chomsky, they're happy. By the way, I sell toll bridges, in case someone needs an investment opportunity. Syria and the USSR will grow ever bolder, secure in the knowledge that they can do whatever they want. The US is in full-scale retreat -- we will not interfere. Khaddafi, if he doesn't die of laughter, will grow rich and happy in the public attention, the renewed support from the Arab world (with his hit squads, what Arab leader would dare oppose him?) and the increased Soviet armamentation. Then one fine day the KGB will cut his head off and install someone a bit more reliable instead. So he'll get his, but you'll have to crawl to Gorbachev to get it done. The US is going to scream and yell (at Libya -- that's safe: Not at Syria or the USSR) and everybody except the terminally brain-softened American public will realize we've been kicked in the butt and can't do a thing to get revenge. Well, maybe not _direct_ revenge: See below. ============================== REVENGE: we'll invade Nicaragua -- no way Reagan is going to let that defeat stay at the top of the headlines. Count on its happening within a month. Good thing too - it'll let the gummint declare yet another state of emergency (Remember the one we called last time, when the Nicaraguans were about to invade Dubuque and we forestalled them by embargoing their bananas?) and this time go to war, clean all the commies and faggots out of public life and throw them in preventive detention where they belong. As Edwin Meese sez, you probably won't be arrested if you're not guilty - why bother with that greasy constitutional rights stuff? Remember last time? 241 marines get creamed via an appalling security failure, and suddenly we have the successful invasion of Grenada to cheer about. Betcha forgot all about those kids in Beirut, right? Betcha also understand exactly why they were there too. ============================== Latitudinarian Lobster and the other pinkoes on the net, tell your buddies to get their tails out of Managua NOW, before our brave boys in green ship them home in pine boxes. I'd say your lead time can be counted in days, weeks at the outside. ------------------------------ Aftermath Israel loses, the US loses, the Syrians and Soviets win. _Totally_. Next time, they'll be bolder. Better invest in pain-killers, kiddies - our chins can expect a pounding over the next few months. The Europeans are being trained to do exactly what the Soviets and (certain) Arabs tell them to. In future, like well-behaved doggies, they can be expected to show more and more facility at begging, shaking hands, and rolling over and playing dead. (Between beatings - the instructional methodology of choice.) As go the Palestinians, does anyone dream they'd get a fair shake from Syria? From the USSR? What do they care who wins the countryconquering game? They'll always be the ones getting stomped, and we will never be short of "terrorists." Mr. Aouriri, I hope you're happy... By the way, you guys who scream about death to baby-killers gotta be taught to suck eggs. The world is not that simple. But if you're really up for getting your violent rocks off, enlist now (the marines offer the most mobility in the shortest time, for my money anyway) and kill a Central American Commie or two. Hope that helps... Thanks for reading this far. Feel free to argue any of the points above. Net.politics has been too damn quiet recently. -- Oded Feingold MIT AI Lab. 545 Tech Square Cambridge, Mass. 02139 OAF%OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA {harvard, ihnp4!mit-eddie}!mitvax!oaf 617-253-8598