'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor of the London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, said that the most important element in the recent conversation between Syrian President Assad and Iranian President Ahmadinejad was the latter's request that Syria destroy Israel should it decide to attack Iran. 'Atwan wrote that if a war of this sort breaks out, Syria is indeed likely to participate in it and launch tens of thousands of missiles into Israel, including missiles with chemical and biological warheads. This, he added, could be the final war that would change the face of the region and cause the Israeli occupation to meet the same fate as the Nazi one.
'Atwan also wrote that the U.S. was employing the "carrot and stick" method to dissuade China from vetoing sanctions on Iran. The "stick" is economic pressure and weapons deals with Taiwan, while the "carrot" is a reduction of oil prices, which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is trying to promote in her current visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), February 14, 2010
