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It is hard to see how Israel is a winner. It is one thing to take a slab of land in the midst of chaos and quite another to secure and hold it securely. Israel cannot even hold Palestine securely so how is it going to hold more of Syria?

As to it being a loss for Iran, again, why would that be? It seems unlikely given the uncertainty in Syria for so long that the Iranians would have invested so much of their power in the State, and open themselves to being weakened by its loss.

Quote: and because the former flow of weapons from Iran through Iraq and Syria into Lebanon for Hezbollah has now been cut off so that Israel will be able to take whatever it wants in Lebanon.

As someone said, and I forget who, the facts on the ground are so fluid and corrupt that there is no way Israel could totally control what goes through Syria or gets to Lebanon. And, given human nature and ingenuity, if the Syria corridor was closed then other corridors would be found. It all seems a bit simplistic to believe that,

a. Israel controls enough of Syria and can continue to do so to ensure no weapons get to Lebanon

b. Israel can control the many different groups who have taken control in Syria

c. Israel can do whatever it wants in Lebanon because for a time, few or no weapons are coming through Syria...

d. Israel can control the Syrians it holds under occupation

e. How can Israel control the Turks who also want to control Syria, as they once formerly did, and who are organised and a strong military force, and they detest the Israelis? The Turkish army has always had a very effective military.

Turkey has one of the best armies in the Middle East. Israel's capacity to put feet on the ground is minimal by comparison. And its military is seriously debased and incompetent with their major experience attacking women, children, the old, sick, crippled and powerless. This is why they have failed to rout either Hamas or Hezbollah. More critical, Turkey can put soldiers in the field without destroying its economy and Israel cannot.

I mean, the Americans cannot even control a destroyed Iraq so why or how could Israel, even with American help, be able to control Syria?

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