The Syrian Hunger Prowl on the Golan
The Syrian rebellion is now over one year old. Despite the efforts of the UN, President Assad continued his dismantling of a nation. Food and medicine are either gone or near gone in many towns and cities. The Syrian government is now selling its gold reserves to fund the war and to replenish supplies.
Yet, much of the war is not on the Golan and adjacent Israeli forces are starting to observe Syrian soldiers hunting for food. Large groups of armed soldiers have gone AWOL to hunt for food. For the first time in years, some have approached the border fence. Israeli soldiers toss over food packets that rapidly disappear. At the Golan town of Quneitra, home to the Syrian 5th Division, 1500 soldiers have walked off. Hundreds of dropouts occur daily from the 15th, 9th and 7th Divisions stationed in central and southern Golan. Large groups of soldiers more concerned about food and water than war especially against their own people. Many of their family members have been killed by the Syrian Army.
Israeli forces observe that many Syrian bases or field positions have been abandoned, leaving the heavy weapons of war in place-and for gangs and others to steal from Jordan and Iraq. These weapons could easily end up in nefarious hands. A Jordanian Sunni terrorist group was responsible for the 100 kilo IED explosion that killed 10 Syrian soldiers in Quneitra. So, there are elements now, other than the freedom fighters, taking shots at Assad's remaining cadre of loyal forces.
Israel could easily enter Syria with little opposition and cause Assad's forces to divert its barrage on civilians near Turkey. This would bring the Assad military to a collapse quicker, instead of the wimpy UN forces now trying to get there. And where is the US?
Our inaction is simply disgraceful. Period.