Lying for a small gain can result in a bigger loss. France and the UK managed to get UN Security Council support for acting to save civilians in Libya but used the resolution to actively help armed fighters by bombing Gaddafi soldiers and supporters. Sarkozy is to face reelection next year while Cameron desperately wants to be the next Margaret Thatcher but is an upper class, right wing despot. Gaddafi is gone but a resolution to impose sanctions on Syria was vetoed by both Russia and China. The Assads, father and son, are much more ruthless dictators than Gaddafi has ever been but there is nothing that western countries can do. Already more than 2000 protesters have been killed by armed forces in Syria, nothing compared to some 10000 killed in Hama by Hafez Al Assad in 1982, but many more may be killed if protesters take up arms. Bashar Al Assad has threatened to attack Israel if there is any NATO bombing in his country like there has been in Libya. Apparently he has said that he can transfer thousands of rockets to the Golan Heights within 3 hours from where he will attack Israel and will also ask Hezbollah in Lebanon to unleash there arsenal. Israel has never been in greater danger than at present. The Muslim Brotherhood is already influencing policy in Egypt and will shortly take power in Libya, Turkey is becoming increasingly Islamic, Palestinians have applied for membership of the UN which will be vetoed by the US increasing Arab fury and now Syria may become unstable with a possibility of an all out war. If Israel is in serious danger the US and NATO may become involved. Sadly small men will always try to act big.