It occurred to me today, just how much I fucking hate this state. I don’t remember hating Ohio. I remember thoroughly enjoying life in South Carolina. But Virginia really bums me out.
Maybe it’s because I am now a permanent resident and the ability to pick up and move is somewhat diminished?
Or maybe it’s because there are jerk-offs running for state political offices who run tv spots that include quotes. From blogs.
About a month ago, there were reports of Israeli planes invading Syrian air space. Israel stayed mum on the subject and Syria wasn’t saying much either. Some details we know. Others seem speculative. In this case, both types of details are intriguing.
So what do we know? We know that Israel made it into Syria, attacked and hit…. something… and apparently made it all the way home, safely.
As a bonus, the Israelis proved they could penetrate the Syrian air defence system, which is stronger than the one protecting Iranian nuclear sites.
Other reports (I’ll find the link later) suggest that Russian arms sales are already hurting because of this event. The Russians, of course, designed and sold the equipment to the Syrians. Which leads to the question, if you can’t trust Russian arms dealers, who can you trust?
Anyway, what exactly was hit? I certainly do not know.
According to the Syrian President, it was an “unused military building.” Other reports suggest the target “weapons headed for Hizbullah.”
Other reports suggest it was something nuclear.
ISRAELI commandos from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit – almost certainly dressed in Syrian uniforms – made their way stealthily towards a secret military compound near Dayr az-Zawr in northern Syria. They were looking for proof that Syria and North Korea were collaborating on a nuclear programme.
Israel had been surveying the site for months, according to Washington and Israeli sources. President George W Bush was told during the summer that Israeli intelligence suggested North Korean personnel and nuclear-related material were at the Syrian site.
Israel was determined not to take any chances with its neighbour. Following the example set by its raid on an Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak 1981, it drew up plans to bomb the Syrian compound.
But Washington was not satisfied. It demanded clear evidence of nuclear-related activities before giving the operation its blessing. The task of the commandos was to provide it.
Today the site near Dayr az-Zawr lies in ruins after it was pounded by Israeli F15Is on September 6. Before the Israelis issued the order to strike, the commandos had secretly seized samples of nuclear material and taken them back into Israel for examination by scientists, the sources say. A laboratory confirmed that the unspecified material was North Korean in origin. America approved an attack.
So while I certainly don’t know what the truth is, the whole situation is intriguing.
Do not keep little bottle of contact re-wetting drops on desk next to little bottle of Wite-Out
