On the tiny chance that the Israelis really did waste a bunch of bombs hitting nothing but sand in the middle of the desert, either just for training or for “intimidation”, then yes, THAT I would have a problem with (more with the training than the intimidation, but pretty equally with both). So if the Syrians could put forward credible evidence that nothing was hit, I’d join the indignation.

As I’ve said though, I happen to belive that the Israelis did indeed hit something out there in the desert, so I doubt the Syrians will ever attempt to provide concrete “proof” that there was nothing there (as that would force the Israelis’ hands, and they surely have video of the bombing that can prove they blew the Hell out of something). I think the Syrians are quite happy with Israel’s silence, and we’ll see them make a bit of noise, and act all indignant, and then mysteriously hush up, lest the Israelis do what you recommend and start talking publicly about what they know.

I’m not philosophically opposed to bombing a country’s secret illegal nuclear facilities. I’m CERTAINLY not opposed to Israel bombing the secret illegal nuclear facilities of neighbouring countries whom I’m not certain would be deterred from nuking Israel by the potential of Israeli retaliation (I’m not at all convinced that some Iranian leaders wouldn’t be quite pleased to martyr themselves by nuking Israel off the map, if they had the opportunity, consequences be damned). I am opposed to ineffectual bombing of a country’s secret illegal nuclear facilities (or, hypothetically, the effective bombing of a country’s secret illegal nuclear facilitites that causes significant harm to said country’s civilian population). Especially if that country has the conventional forces to make things get really nasty, really fast! (as in the Iranian case).

Cases like the recent activity in Syria, or the ‘81 bombing of the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq really don’t bother me much.

Israel is surrounded by countries where public opinion polls show that the majoprity of people still do not believe that Israel has the right to exist. If the Israelis conduct bombing raids that kill or even just endanger civilian populations, I’ll get up the gumption to be upset and demand answers. As long as the Syrians are claiming they hit nothing but sand (which to me, SCREAMS “They hit our secret illegal nuclear facility”) then as far as I’m concerned, bombs away.

This isn’t about The Bomb it’s about Israel intimidating Syria as it intimidates Palestine and Lebanon and it’s so far unsuccessful attempts to get at Iran.

The only thing that is threatening Israel is world opinion and the peace process. If it succeeds, the Israelis get screwed out of the West Bank and its water.

Given the Syrian response, I’m quite sure the Knesset (or at least those who needed to know within the Knesset) knew EXACTLY what the plan was, and signed off happily.

I’d be pretty OK with all of that.

It’s not often that a government has to keep information from their citizens in order to keep their citizens safe, but I’m hard pressed to accept that the secret bombing of an adversarial neighbour’s secret nuclear facilities in the middle of an unpopulated desert isn’t one of those times!

If you’re an American and your President said, “No comment” to a collusion to bombing Syria, you’d be OK with that.

You’re an Israeli and your government bombs Syria with a “No comment” and you’re OK with that.

Why bother with a parliament, a congress and knesset? They don’t matter, just bomb the bastards with no comment.

Not in my democracy.

As for the Israel airforce being the “most battle-hardened air forces on the planet” battle-hardened by whom? They bomb with impunity and without opposition, as the Syrian mission proved.