A replay of Judges chapter seven--or First Samuel thirteen?

(Virginia Beach, June 19, 2012) -- "Iran, Russia, China and Syria will hold the Middle East's largest ever war game, Iranian news outlets reported quoting unnamed sources," reports the Jerusalem Post. "According to the report, 90,000 troops, 400 warplanes and 1,000 tanks from the four countries will take part in land and sea exercises. The war games will feature Russian atomic submarines, according to Iranian media, as well as warships, aircraft carriers and mine-clearing destroyers. Semi-official Iranian FARS news agency stated that the exercise was being planned in coordination with Egypt, which recently acceded to grant the passage of 12 Chinese warships through the Suez Canal. The report stated that the Chinese naval convoy is due to dock in Syrian harbors within the next two weeks. Regarding the timing of the planned exercise, FARS quoted unnamed Syrian officials as saying the war game would be held 'soon'."

If--and it's a big if--if Israel decides to go it alone without backing from the US--OR if the US is only posturing about not letting Israel attack Iran--this would be a good time to do it. Military operations turn out to be most effective when they are carried out right when the enemy is most strenuously preparing for them by carrying out a full-scale simulation. Then it becomes almost impossible to tell simulation from reality, or opfor from enemy. If any shots end up being fired at the Israelis, some of them will most certainly end up hitting either the Russians or the Chinese. And vice versa.

Just saying. Because I do have some readers in ha-eretz.

This just in . . . MOSCOW (Reuters) - World powers and Iran failed to secure a breakthrough at talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Tuesday and set no date for more political negotiations, despite the threat of a new Middle East conflict if diplomacy collapses.

So, maybe it's not such a big 'if' after all.