Submitted by Dave Levy, May 16, 2007 16:39

The real expectation for a renewal of fighting on a large scale is between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, now that dozens of Kassam rockets have been fired by the agents of Hamas into southern Israel causing much damage and serious injuries.

Israel is finally responding, attacking Hamas headquarters, and other places, but in the main, is still using restraint against an enemy sworn to it's destruction and boasts of it.

Syria may be just huffing and puffing, trying to intimidate the UN, US, etc. to refrain from becoming involved in any clash between opposing sides, and it might also be using psychology to thwart any opposition to it's occupation of Lebanon (still).

We know that Condi Rice testified that Syria is still acting like the spoiler in the M.E.

Israel completed massive maneuvers on it's northern border with Syria..but has indicated it will not go to war. Syria has fortified it's southern positions with Israel, is on alert, has moved up troops, and probably loaded it's 700 Scuds with biological and chemical warheads. It is looking for help from Iran, in any conflict and has treaties with that (almost to be nuclear) country.

So, things are a heating up in that part of the world...Condi's overtures or no.

I find it most interesting that whenever we (US) reach out, as suggested by the Baker-Hamilton Commission, things get worse before they get better.

Perhaps we should be learning that Bush is right after all.

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