"Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few; and the implicit submission, with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers."
~ David Hume, Of the First Principles of Government, 1768
"It's very simple: in Soviet Union, we don't believe our propaganda. In America, you actually believe yours!"
Tel Aviv's assertion that it attacked Iranian forces stationed near Damascus is untrue, the former head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards has said, warning that the airstrikes would be answered by Syria's "defenders."UPDATE: Sputnik reports 25/8/2019 Iran 'not safe anywhere' Israeli Ministers warn
Major General Mohsen Rezaei dismissed allegations that the cross-border strikes had targeted Iranian military personnel who were planning to launch drone attacks aimed at targets inside Israel.
"This is a lie and not true. Israel and the United States do not have the power to attack Iran's various centers, and our (military) advisory centers have not been harmed," Rezaei told the semi-official ILNA news agency.
Earlier this week, Israeli airstrikes targeted an alleged Iranian weapons depot in Iraq - a move which was also strongly condemned by Rezaei.
"The actions carried out jointly by Israel and the United States in Syria and Iraq are in breach of international law and will soon be answered by Syria and Iraq's defenders," he said.
"We are taking responsibility for the attack in Syria and are saying that Iran should feel it is not safe anywhere. Iran is working day and night all over the Middle East in order to build an empire that has set for itself the goal of destroying Israel", Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Ze'ev Elkin told Channel 13 TV news.See also:
Likewise, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Kan public radio that Israel publicly acknowledged the airstrike to demonstrate that Iran "has no immunity anywhere": "The [Syria] action was intended to cut the head off the snake".
The remarks by the two ministers echoed a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also defence minister, issued just minutes after the Israeli military announced the attack.
"Iran has no immunity anywhere. Our forces operate in every sector against the Iranian aggression. I have directed that our forces be prepared for any scenario. We will continue to take determined and responsible action against Iran and its proxies for the security of Israel", he said.
In the aftermath of the strikes, IDF spokesperson Lt. Gen. Jonathan Conricus said forces had been put on high alert near the Syrian border.
"The IDF is prepared to continue defending the State of Israel against any attempts to harm it and holds Iran and the Syrian regime directly responsible for the thwarted attack", he said.
Comment: From RT 25/8/2019: Lebanese PM accuses Israel of 'open attack' on sovereignty From Sputnik, 25/8/2019: Israeli fighter jets fly over Lebanon after drones crash in Beirut From Sputnik, 25/8/2019: Nasrallah denounces Israeli drone attack in Beirut, vows to confront such incidents in future Nasrallah also called "The latest Israeli development very, very, very dangerous," in a televised speech.
Things are finally opening up in the Middle East. Israel is now directly engaged in airstrikes against Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and - possibly very soon - Yemen. If it starts serious bombing in Lebanon, and Hezbollah - armed to the teeth this time around - fights back, it's curtains for the modern incarnation of Judea.
The Israeli govt justifies its utterly insane belligerence by saying 'the Iranians are everywhere'. But calling everyone it hates 'Iranians' is the Israeli equivalent of Western leaders calling all dissenting opinion 'Russian trolls'.
What's actually happening is that the largest (population-wise) countries in the region are coordinating their military actions to encircle and eventually contain Israel. This is their (belated) pushback against the Neocons' Yinon plan to 'balkanize' the region.
Israel - blinded by pathological hatred - doesn't see that its wild, preemptive actions are just tightening the noose around its neck...
UPDATE 26 Aug 2019
From RT, 26/8/2019: Israel strikes Palestinian group in Lebanon after punishing Hamas for Gaza rocket fire See also: