More details emerge on the Israeli raid on Syria

We're starting to get more information on what was going on behind the scenes as the Israelis planned their attack on the Syrian base. They were concerned enough about getting American support that they launched a special ops force to get proof of North Korean support for the Syrian efforts gain nuclear arms.

ISRAELI commandos from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit – almost certainly dressed in Syrian uniforms – made their way stealthily towards a secret military compound near Dayr az-Zawr in northern Syria. They were looking for proof that Syria and North Korea were collaborating on a nuclear programme.

Israel had been surveying the site for months, according to Washington and Israeli sources. President George W Bush was told during the summer that Israeli intelligence suggested North Korean personnel and nuclear-related material were at the Syrian site.

Israel was determined not to take any chances with its neighbour. Following the example set by its raid on an Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak 1981, it drew up plans to bomb the Syrian compound.

But Washington was not satisfied. It demanded clear evidence of nuclear-related activities before giving the operation its blessing. The task of the commandos was to provide it.

Today the site near Dayr az-Zawr lies in ruins after it was pounded by Israeli F15Is on September 6. Before the Israelis issued the order to strike, the commandos had secretly seized samples of nuclear material and taken them back into Israel for examination by scientists, the sources say. A laboratory confirmed that the unspecified material was North Korean in origin. America approved an attack.

Could someone go ask Dennis Kucinich and Nancy Pelosi if they still think that Syria is the path to peace in the Middle East?

Although North Korea has been strong in its condemnation of Israel. The dog that didn't bark has been all the other Arab nations in the area that have been strangely quiet instead of rushing to Syria's defense. They're not any happier about the idea of a nuclear Syria than Israel is.