What's going to happen with Syria?

[Little Raven]

Syria should be safe for now. Syria will not attack Israel, and according to the IDF, Israel will not attack Syria either. Plus, you should get lots of extra attention because some of the other tourists will have been scared off.

That said, of course there's some added risk going to that part of the world right now. But it's minimal. In your shoes, I'd probably go. And certainly don't take a gun. You're a tourist, not a mercenary.

 

[civaddict098]

these two links might be helpfull
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2123.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1035.html

 

[Comraddict]

Syria has 72 hours ultimatum?

Report: Israel gives Syria ultimatum

London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat says Israel gave Syria 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity, bring about release of kidnapped IDF troops. ‘Israel will not end military activity until new situation created that will prevent Syria, Iran from using terror organizations to threaten its security,’ newspaper quotes Pentagon official as saying

link

I see this is article that IDF response was based on.

 

[Kozmos]

Syria should be safe for now. Syria will not attack Israel, and according to the IDF, Israel will not attack Syria either. Plus, you should get lots of extra attention because some of the other tourists will have been scared off.

That said, of course there's some added risk going to that part of the world right now. But it's minimal. In your shoes, I'd probably go. And certainly don't take a gun. You're a tourist, not a mercenary.

Or is he? Maybe he is a PMC and this trip is buisness in nature. *DUN DUN DUN!*

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

these two links might be helpfull
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2123.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1035.html

Take it from me, government travel advisories are essentially useless. If everyone paid serious attention to what they said, no one would travel.

 

[Winterfell]

I'm glad to hear this. Especially considering you live in Israel.

On a slightly different note, I also see you're from Eilat, and would like to ask about the temperature down by the red sea. I didn't plan to go as south as that, but might do that now if I'm staying longer in Jordan. I read it can go up to 44C in the shade, is it still bearable? Is it possible to dive when it's this hot?

It's pretty hot but as the humidity is only about 20% it is bearable. Anyway people dont go out if its not to the beach when the sun still shines.
About the dive - It is possible. You should also come to eilat to dive with the dolphins (the only place in the world that promises that kind of an activity as far as I can tell). I think Eilat is practically the safest place in the ME these days.

 

[Squonk]

I am in Syria right now. I don't think the war will spread to it. Israel is too busy fighting Lebanon and Palestinians. America is busy in Afaghanistan and Iraq. Syria acts calmly, and only Iran is acting "bravely"
Well, these are my hopes at least. but I don't see anything like war preparemnt or panic here.
Also, I don't think Syria has anything to do with the kidnappings. If a foreign state was involved - which may not be true - Iran could be. Syria is already threatened so often and in such a bad geopolitical situation, that all that happens right now is not really what it would want.

 

[mrgenius]

This might or might not be a sign of further military action, but according to news networks (I don't remember if it was CNN or Fox) Israel has begun bombing targets on the Lebanese-Syrian border, but on the Lebanese sign.

 

[EdwardTking]

I don't think that either Iran or Syria should want to do
anything now that would result in them going to war.

Logically the Iranians should quietly behave themselves,
until they have nukes, to avoid US pre-emption.

And both countries would be well advised to
await the outcome of the mid term US elections.

This may result of course in the frustrated Israelis
taking the next month or so as their last opportunity
to provoke them while the Republicans rule in the USA.

And I wonder what the Israeli leadership really think is
their best long term strategy?

I doubt that even they believe that bombing Lebanon will,
as they claim, result in the Lebanese government either
disarming, dissuading or meaningfully move against Hizbollah.

While tactically very militarily strong in the short term,
the Israelis are in a really awful long term predicament.

They are surrounded by Islamic fundamentalists who
are intransigent and want to completely eliminate them.

They fear, probably correctly, that any further territorial
compromises will merely be interpreted as a sign of weakness;
and encourage an overwhelming onslaught.

They are outnumbered over 50 to 1.

Declining world oil reserves means that countries such as
the EU, China, India and Japan, which are currently indifferent,
may become more inclined to support their enemies.

I fear that they may conclude that having the USA at the height
of its power commence a WW3 against Islam is their best hope.

I have this funny sort of reverse deja vu re 1914 and Serbia.

 

[funxus]

It's pretty hot but as the humidity is only about 20% it is bearable. Anyway people dont go out if its not to the beach when the sun still shines.
About the dive - It is possible. You should also come to eilat to dive with the dolphins (the only place in the world that promises that kind of an activity as far as I can tell). I think Eilat is practically the safest place in the ME these days.

Sounds good And about going to Eilat, I'd love to do that, but since I'm flying back from Damascus, I would need to find a border crossing that doesn't give me an Israeli stamp in the passport. These border crossings are rumoured to exist, but are kind of a risk. Do you know of any crossing down there that would let me do that?

I've pretty much decided to go, and I'm grateful for the articles supplied, helped quite a bit

 

[shahreevar]

the iranian president warned that if syria is attacked, then its an attack on the who islamic world.

sheesh.... lets not encourage the syrian conflict, since it will spread like fire. although i know some people are rooting for it (you know who you are !!!)

 

[Winterfell]

Sounds good And about going to Eilat, I'd love to do that, but since I'm flying back from Damascus, I would need to find a border crossing that doesn't give me an Israeli stamp in the passport. These border crossings are rumoured to exist, but are kind of a risk. Do you know of any crossing down there that would let me do that?

I've pretty much decided to go, and I'm grateful for the articles supplied, helped quite a bit

Well, a year ago I visited greek cyprus, and when I went to the turkish side they stamped a seperate page attached to my passport, that I later on got rid off so I could return to the greek side. Perhaps there is something like that as well in the official border crossings.

 

[Godwynn]

If you really want to go, get a handgun and a knife at least.

He has to go on a plane! I don't think they allows those anymore.