Israel has ended its silence on the strike in Syria, by confirming that it struck a Syrian military target on September 6th. However, it did not provide details of the target.
On the other hand, Syrian President Assad in an interview with BBC commented on the strike and stated that an “unused military building” that was under construction had been struck.
It looks like the Israelis lifted their silence as a result of the Assad interview and although it confirms that the Israelis hit something in Syria, it also leaves a lot of questions unanswered. At least both sides are in agreement on the target being military.
21 Comments
Why have you posted this piece of news about the Near East here? Were Israel to attack North Korea, it would be appropriate.
Syria –> Nuclear Weapons –> North Korean help. Plus, is there a law that says this place has to be as overseas-ignorant and Korea-focused as, say, Korea…?
I quote : ‘Syria –> Nuclear Weapons –> North Korean help.’ That’s quite a stretch as the BBC states: ‘It is still not known why Israel carried out the strike or what exactly was hit.’
I quote: ‘[I]s there a law that says this place has to be … Korea-focused…?’ No, but I quote Mr Koehler: ‘The Marmot’s Hole is a blog where people come to talk about Korea.’
I quote: ‘as overseas-ignorant and Korea-focused as, say, Korea…?’
With this I shall leave for your conscience to grapple.
FD, the Marmot’s Hole and other K-blogs have been following the Israeli strike in Syria because of the alleged nuclear link between Syria and North Korea. So unless solid evidence that there was no link comes up, expect the boss and the guest bloggers to continue blogging about this subject.
This is an issue that is important to some expats in Korea, because, of course, the North Korean connection to Syria. We don’t know if that connection includes nuclear materials, but I believe there is evidence that it has included missiles. Something is going on, so obviously some of us are interested.
There may be something here, but I must admit that I view these reports with more skepticism than I would have a few years ago. Not to say that North Korea and Syria aren’t shitty countries - they are - but I don’t have all that much faith in whatever reports or leaks may be coming out of Israel or the United States. We have no idea of what the real story is, how information has been/will be twisted and spun, etc.
I expect bullshit from despotic regimes, but can’t help but remember how we were fed lies about Iraq trying to acquire uranium from Niger. Or the Gulf of Tonkin incident that helped to set the stage for the Vietnam War. Again, I wouldn’t put anything past the North Koreans and Syrians, but I’m not exactly convinced so far.
Our conscience to grapple? That’s a bit rich. I’ll be happy to talk about this and sleep pretty well at night.
This sort of operation is at the upper echelon of tip top secret and nobody is talking about it who knows what happened.
FD, do you think Israel invaded Syrian airspace, bombed a target, even sent in some special forces units just to take out an abandoned military building?
It isn’t so far-fetched to think that North Korea might be looking to unload some of its recently aquired weapons grade material for a bit of cache since it has been pretty strapped lately. It also has been talking about allowing Nuclear inspectors in. It needs money and to clean up. Here comes Syria looking to pay for the mess.
We talk about non-Korean related things all the time. It hasn’t bled out and contaminated the country yet. Korea is part of the world now. Everything is Korea related.
Oh, and if it’s not what we’re supposing, why isn’t there more sabor rattling from the middle east. Israel just invaded a sovereign nation and nobody is stirred up? Nobody is talking but I don’t think anyone’s fooled.
I quote Maddlew: ‘Our conscience to grapple? That’s a bit rich. I’ll be happy to talk about this and sleep pretty well at night.’ I directed my comment to dda. Are you dda? Why did I make such a comment, do you reckon? Read ehat I wrote closely, I beg.
Again from Maddlew: ‘FD, do you think Israel invaded Syrian airspace, bombed a target, even sent in some special forces units just to take out an abandoned military building?’ I made no speculation touching the reasons for the Israeli attack. Read what I wrote closely, I beg.
What I noticed from you was an implied, until there is proof, this topic and other subjects without direct impact on Korea are inappropriate to discuss on this blog. I vociferously disagree with ALL you said. Have you seen the almost weekly thread, “Another Reason The US Is Totally F’d”?
No begging!
In fact, I have seen the ’series’ called ‘Another Reason The US Is Totally F’d’? It’s regrettable, too.
And I inexplicably missed this: ‘Korea is part of the world now.’ I thought that Korea had always been ‘part of the world.’ Well, I’ve heard that we learn something new everyday. Just so.
‘Everything is Korea related.’ If this were true, why have a web-log that focusses on Korea? Why, the Marmot’s Hole should be re-christened the ‘World’s Hole.’ Or perhaps the ‘Universe’s Hole’ would serve?
How about this, leave it as the Marmot’s Hole and let the Mamot decide what he puts on it and what he doesn’t. I’m sure he wouldn’t begrudge you creating your own blog to incite discussion on whatever YOU believe is appropriate.
How about addressing my statement from above: ‘And I inexplicably missed this: “Korea is part of the world now.” I thought that Korea had always been “part of the world.” Well, I’ve heard that we learn something new everyday. Just so.’?
RE: #11: “Why, the Marmot’s Hole should be re-christened the ‘World’s Hole.’ Or perhaps the ‘Universe’s Hole’ would serve?”
given the other topics that have been posted and discussed in recent days/weeks regarding licentious western men/slutty korean women and such, the above references to the (re)christening of Holes imply all kinds of comments just waiting and begging to be tapped, so to speak, so much so that one trembles with anticipation at where to start…
The post was quite relevant to what we’ve been discussing here.
Anyway, your opinion on the matter has been duly noted, FD. And I respectfully request that questions over what I or my guest posters post on my blog be left to me.
Thank you in advance.
What’s there to remark on, FD? I thought you were being facetious.
I’d like to know when Korea was not ‘part of the world’. I trust my meaning is clear when stated in this way.
Solid evidence that there was no link? Whaaa??? You is making my brain hurt here. Is this like how we have no solid evidence that Saddam Hussein’s regime didn’t have deployable chemical weapons?
No need to grapple, thank yee.
> FD
> I’d like to know when Korea was not ‘part of the world’.
As you may or may not know, Korea’s participation in ‘the world’ was severely restricted, to near-zero level, from the 1600s until around the 1880s, earning it the enduring nickname “the Hermit Kingdom”. 1880s~1960s, still not much global participation or significance. North Korea continues the “Hermit Kingdom” status today. The South truly became ‘part of the world’ starting in the 1970s — really effectively, with the 1988 Olympics…
To better explain why this thread was initiated, one might go back to speak no evil and The Syrian-North Korean connection. A search in the archives provides everything but good denjung.