Syria and Iran.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by beej

Perhaps, but somehow I just don't see all of that falling into place without some extremist element somewhere doing something boneheaded that turns the region into powder keg. With respect to 'green lighting' Israel there are other players in the region who may not see that as optimal.

Yes, but you seem to be assuming that these people earned any lessons from the Iraq and Afghanistan misadventures.

We can also discuss how the other players in the area, particular the secular regimes like Bahrain and Qatar, would feel about having a militant Islamic state in their midst. They might also like to see an Israel weakened by a prolonged conflict.

Plus the NeoCons want Iran's oil.

John