Israel's attack Sunday on an alleged terrorist training camp inside Syria marks a dangerous turn in the Middle East conflict. Sadly, the strike is perfectly consistent with the doctrine of "preemption" that has been endorsed by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. The attack makes plain the dangers inherent within this policy. If not condemned by the United Nations, there is the very real danger that other countries will embrace it as well, and that could have devastating consequences for international peace and stability.
Syria's ties to international terrorist groups are well known. It has long been accused of harboring and providing support for extremists. While the Damascus government denies active involvement with the groups, in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, it had said it would close local offices of those organizations.
That has satisfied neither the United States, which continues to accuse Syria of slacking off in the war against terrorism, nor Israel. When a Palestinian suicide bomber blew herself up in Haifa last weekend, killing 19 Israelis and wounding 55 others, and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, Israel struck back with its first attack deep in Syrian territory in three decades.