| 1. Why assume that the Iran/Iraq war's end will have any negative
influence on Egypt's relations with Israel? I don't see the connection.
2. I am indeed frightened by Iraq's army, especially the training
they received during the last 8 (?) years of fighting, and especially
in the use of gas and chemical warfare. But it seems to me that
Iraq (and Iran too for that matter) is essentially too weak for
the near future to do anything to Israel. The army may be very large
but the economy is seriously weak. Also I doubt that a "peace" with
Iran will release Iraq's major troop concentrations to another front.
No doubt most of Iraq's army will continue to be concentrated on
the border with Iran. (And vice versa for Iran vis-a-vis Iraq)
Alan
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| re: .0
Eygpt will not rescind on it's agreements with Israel because first
of all they've gained too much from them: all of Sinai, a breather
for their strapped economy(although it is still in tough shape),
time to rebuild their armed forces, and I could go on and on.
re: Iraq - well here's another kettle of fish. .1 was correct in
assuming that Iraq's army will be situated on the Iranian border
for a long time. However their army is now 55 (am I correct?)
divisions strong, battle-tested, expert in the use of chemical weapons
(G-d forbid!), and if a peace with Iran holds than there will be
an over-abundant armed force just sitting around in their barracks
with no war to fight. No doubt Iraq would be a major factor in
another Middle East war.
I agree 100% with Ze'ev Schiff of Haaretz who stated that Israel
wasted the eight-year period of the Iran-Iraq war by not exploiting
the opportunities for peace. Now Israel could face an even more
potent force on the rejectionist front other than Syria. What benefits
did selling arms to Iran gain Israel?
David
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