Syria is surrounded by countries that are no longer in its "camp." Iraq, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon are not the friendly regimes they once were -- a consequence of Saddam's fall that has not gone unnoticed by the Israelis. In sending fighter planes "deep" into Syrian airspace, Israel is taking advantage of Assad's weak hand and relying on Bush's preemptive doctrine so abhorred by the UN leadership.

Instead of busting a gut, the boyz at State should sense the shifting balance of power on Israel's northern border and call Assad to the negotiating table.