SCENE: Unnamed strategy room in the West Wing.
Bush: Hey, Gatesy. Look, our boy M.C. Cain is running a bit behind in the polls. This economy thing is really a drag. We need to do something militaristic to make M.C. look like the choice.
Gates: What do you have in mind?
Bush: Maybe we can bomb someone, or invade someone? How about Iran? They’re downright Un-American!
Gates: Sir, with all due respect we’re already stretched a bit thin with our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Bush: Well, c’mon. There’s gotta be something. That’s what I pay you for. Figuring out who to invade. What can we afford?
Gates: I think I’ve got a free helicopter in Iraq. We could send that into Syria. Take out a couple of civilians.
Bush: Syira? Are we at war with Syria?
Gates: Of course not. But, that would certainly stir things up a bit.
Bush: Gotcha. Okay, let’s rock and roll!
What could lie behind Syria raid?
Whatever the local military factors involved in this US operation, it would be unthinkable to imagine that an incursion into Syria would not require a policy decision at a high-level.