Proof Of Syria's Reactor Just As Olmert Ready To Return Golan

If there really is no such thing as a coincidence in politics, then what kind of connection is there between Olmert's apparent offer of the Golan to Syria and revelation the the US that there is proof that the structure bombed by Israel last year was indeed a nuclear reactor?

After all, why is the US only now revealing that it has proof?

Eli Lake reports in the New York Sun:

The White House said it withheld the intelligence on Syria in the immediate aftermath of the bombing in part to avoid the potential of a regional war between Syria and Israel. "If Syria was forced to acknowledge the full extent of the September 6 operation, they would have to retaliate at the time," one Bush administration official said. A White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, demanded Syria come clean. "The Syrian regime must come clean before the world regarding its illicit nuclear activities."

Supposedly now it is too late for Syria to take action. But more than that:

Damascus will likely face a nuclear audit from the International Atomic Energy Agency and may be raising the Golan issue and the prospect of peace in hopes of distracting from its nuclear program.

Olmert may very well think he is being clever in taking advantage of the situation to push ahead a return of the Golan in order to forge a peace treaty with Syria, but there is no indication that Syria is willing--or even able, considering its ties with Iran--to make peace or even reduce tensions with Israel.

Even if Syria has any interest in peace, is the prospect of an investigation into their nuclear reactor really the motivator? Ed Morrissey doesn't agree:

It’[s an interesting scenario, but not completely convincing. Assad has already run afoul of the UN over the assassination of Rafik Hariri and others in Lebanon, and that didn’t stop him from partnering with Kim Jong-Il on nuclear weapons. If the Syrians have suddenly become interested in peace, Israeli bombs likely provided a lot more incentive than the American delay in briefing Congress.

Leave it to Israel to take a strong action and then pursue what can only be a dubious peace at best with a country that has made no overtures towards peace.

Olmert is begin to look like Israel's answer to Jimmy Carter.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Golan and Syria.