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soldiers. T he Syrians insist their
presence in Lebanon was legiti–
mized by a Lebanese invitation to
intervene during Lebanon 's 1975-
76 civil war and later formal ized as
an Arab peacekeeping force by the
Arab League.
In contrast, Syrians contend
Israelí troops are in Lebanon as the
result of an
invasion
in the summer
of 1982, an invasion Syrians regard
Most Syrians are convinced that
Israel has definite expansionist
ai ms in neighboring Arab coun–
tries. The words
plots, conspiracies
and
intrigues
are regularly used in
the Syrian press to describe Israel í
intentions in the region.
Syrians feel threatened by Israel,
and most anticípate an eventual
Israelí attack on thei r country.
"It is
Israel
that is hostile, not
country's military preparedness.
Despite its mil itary setbacks in
the 1982 Lebanon war, Syria
remains l s rael 's most formidable
neigh bor. The Soviet Union–
Syria's major weapons supp li er
and política! backer-has re–
placed all o f Syria's combat losses
with even more powerfu l arms
(see box).
In a short time, Syria's revamped
military has become a
Syria's Formidable Military
more than 150 miles. The
SAM sitas thus give Syria the
potential of spotting and
attacking lsraefi aircraft as
they take off from airfields
deep within Israel.
major fighting force. ls–
rael's edge is slowly being
eroded as Soviet deliver–
ies continue to ftood into
Syria's arsenal.
S
yria is Moscow's chief
ally in the Middle East.
More than 5,000 Russian
military advisers and civilian
technicians are stationed in
Syria. Russian military
eQuipment is pouring into
the country at an
unprecedented rate.
The Syrian army is
considerably stronger now
than it was jusi a year ago.
Experts believe it is at
twice
its strength comparad lo
what it was al the outbreak
of the 1973 October
War.
Syria is reportedly
spending more than half its
national budget on defensa.
Under the 1983-84 Syrian
budget, defensa spending
will total US$2.6 billion (54
percent of the budget).
Despite the negativa effect
of this ambitious
military-spending program on
the nation's economy, most
Syrians aren' t complaining.
These weapons. they warn.
are essential to answer
"Israelí aggression." " There
are Israelí torces within 30
miles of Damascus," they
remind journalists.
Syria has more than 3.600
Soviet-made tanks in its
arsenal , including the T-72,
the Kremlin's most advanced
tank. Syria's air force boasts
more than 600 MiG fighters.
Even more signiflcantly.
the Soviet Union has
provided Syria
with
long-range SAM-5 antiaircraft
missiles. SAM-5 missiles have
not before been deployed
outside the Warsaw Pact
nations.
SAM-5 radar allows Syria
to detect Israelí aircraft at
longer ranges than ever
before. The missiles
themselves have a range of
The SAM sites in Syria are
manned by Soviet crewmen,
and are well protected by
batteries of other
surface-to-air missiles . That
the sitas are manned by
Russians adds an additional
unsettling factor to the
Mideast picture: an lsraeli
attack could kili Soviet
personnel.
On the ground. Syria has
sorne 230,000 men under
arms, and can call up
another 100,000 reserves on
short notice. Syrian ground
torces performed with skill in
Lebanon in 1982, as even
the lsraelis admit. "We put up
a good fight ; we held the
line." says one Syrian soldier.
Since then, the Syrian army
has been further expanded
and modernizad.
What is the possibility
of these weapons actually
being
used,
of Syri a and
Is rael being drawn into
direct conflict-a fifth
Middle East war?
" l f Arab territories
occupied in 1967 are
returned and the rights of
P a lest i n ians are re–
spected, we will seek
peace with Israel," said a
Syrian army officer. " But
as long as the Palestinians
continue to be denied
their right to self-deter–
mination,
there can be no
peace!"
In the opinion of most
Syrians, lsrael 's "intran–
sigence" prevents a fair
and peaceful resolution of
the Middle East problem.
T hus
war,
they believe, is
the only answer.
"War is coming. There
is no doubt. And we are
as an act in violation of internation–
allaw.
Syr ians are convinced that Is rael
wants to impose its hegemony over
Lebanon. They cite l srael's de–
mands for a continuing military
presence in south Lebanon as proof
of the intentions of the J ewish
state.
Syria," asserted a student at the
University of Damascus. " Our poli–
cíes are
defensive.
We must protect
our security."
ready!" asserted one a rmy reservist.
In the minds of the vast majority of
Syrians, it is no longer a question of
if
war comes. l t is only a question
of
when.
A big war, they believe, is
inevitable.
Both Israel and Syria advance
confticting charges of expansionist
intentions. Israel accuses Syria of
attempting to incorporate areas of
Leba non into a n env i sio ned
"Greater Syria." Syr ians, on the
other hand, claim that l srael's
actions in Lebanon are just another
chapter in the Zionist state's
expansionist "grand design."
8
"Look at the record," another
student declared. "The l srae lis
have an nexed our Golan Heights.
They continue to build settlements
on the occupied West Bank-and
will probably annex it. They oppose
the formation of a Palestinian state.
Now they want to annex south
Lebanon. They are expansionists.
Wh at other conclusions can we
draw?"
Big War " Inevitable " ?
Syr ia's determinat ion to "stand
firm" against Is rael hinges on the
Most Syrians are confident of
their ability to score a victory in the
next round of fighting with Israel.
Popular feeling is overwhelmingly
enthusiastic at the prospect or
finally settling past scores with the
Zionist entity, as Israel is often
referred to.
"We will fight Israel 100 times.
We will fight for a year, two or
three," declared Syria's defense
minister Mustapha Tlass last J uly.
(Continued on page 31 )
The
PLAIN TRUTH