I have been googling all morning trying to read international news etc. IMO Iran has a population which is also restive. I suggest that all Middle-Eastern dictatorships are getting worried that their youth and middle classes are disaffected and could oust them too. Syria is to the north of Israel - and Lebanon. I believe the Iranian war(training) ships are headed for Syria, but incidentally have to pass the Israeli/Lebanon coastline to get there.
Could Syria be the next troublespot? Is Ahmadinejad showing his own people, he is in control and prepared to take action?
Re Israel: I talked to a great Jewish friend last night and she has no contact with any Israelis, so we were guessing how many supporters Israel has left in the Middle East; there are the two Abdullahs, one in Saudia Arabia, the other in Jordan - maybe Turkey, but the Israelis have managed to put them off-side last year. Egypt may come round to being a friend again, once it becomes clear who the new masters are; and if U.S. endorsed. Syria has no reason to be friends, they probably get all the backwash from the Israel/Palestinia conflict in the form of refugees. Obama has put Israel in its place a number of times, but would probably become the white knight if absolutely necessary; 'softly, softly' is the best policy for Israel, IMO. But stranger things have happened - if there is a party willing to risk all-out war, situations can be manipulated to create a war.
Yet I am strangely hopeful. This whole scenario reminds me of the fall of the Berlin Wall - the Middle East is changing dramatically, I hope for the better.
