Free Infringement by Benjamin Westbrook Page B

civilian casualties from Syrian missiles fired into Tel Aviv the day before, using missile technology provided by the Russians. They had responded with a substantial air strike on various military and government sites in and around Damascus. Those air strikes prompted, or depending on one’s point of view, provided an excuse for Hezbollah and Hamas to engage Israeli Defense Force, or IDF, soldiers in the West Bank, Gaza, and the border area between Lebanon and Israel, as well as for the Syrians to launch another flurry of missiles into Israel, many of which had been intercepted by the Iron Dome. Islamic State fighters had begun engaging IDF troops along the Jordanian and Syrian borders.
    “It’s quickly becoming a mess over here,” the man sitting next to Declan said as they both sat watching the news.
    “It definitely looks that way,” replied Declan, happy to have someone to talk to, if only to kill some time. “I wonder how long until we get our troops involved.”
    “We won’t get our troops involved this time, not to help the Israelis. No one will. This administration certainly hasn’t shown any love for the Israelis, and particularly not for the Prime Minister. They went out on their own against Iran, and will likely have to go it alone on this too.”
    “You don’t think the U.S. will just sit on the sidelines, do you? I mean, despite some obvious tension with the Israelis, they’re still our main ally in the region.”
    “I think if the administration were going to get involved directly and come to the Israelis’ aid, they’d have done it by now,” the man responded. “I think Israel is on our own this time.”
    “Are you Israeli?”
    “No, I live in Philadelphia, but I am Jewish and I have family living in Jerusalem, including both my sons and their families. I’m Joseph Steinman.”
    “Declan Parker,” said Declan, introducing himself.
    “A pleasure to meet you. Declan is an Irish name isn’t it?”
    “It is. I’m told that it was always one of my mom’s favorite names. She couldn’t get my dad to go for it when my older brother was born, but by the time I came along she’d worn him down.”
    “Are you Irish, I mean of Irish descent?”
    “Irish on my mom’s side, and English on my dad’s.”
    “An interesting combination.”
    “Yes, it is. It made for an entertaining childhood at times.”
    “I can imagine. Where are you heading?”
    “Nowhere. My girlfriend is coming in from D.C. for Christmas, so I’m here to pick her up, but her flight is delayed.”
    “Aren’t they all,” replied Mr. Steinman.
    “Are you traveling?”
    “I am. I’m headed home to Philly. I was out here for business this week. My oldest son and his family are supposed to fly in from Jerusalem tomorrow. I’m hoping they are still able to get out okay.”
    “Has Jerusalem been hit with any of the missile attacks?”
    “Nothing major so far, but with the attacks on Tel Aviv yesterday and what’s happening today, I’m obviously concerned.”
    “Understandably. It has to be difficult to have family in the midst of all that fighting.”
    “It is, and I fear it’s only going to get worse. Blowback from the Iran strike was expected, but with this escalation, and an absence of international support for Israel, I fear that things in the region are going to get really ugly really quickly. I don’t think we’re too far from seeing Syria employ chemical or biological weapons of some sort.”
    “I didn’t think the Syrians had any left. I thought they had to give them all up at one point quite a while ago.”
    “Trust me, they still have them. That was a bit of a debacle. Regardless, with all the chaos in that country since the civil war began and with ISIS holding areas of the country, who knows where all the chemical weapons went or to whom they went.”
    “If that happened, if Syria, ISIS, or someone else used chemical weapons, do you think Israel would respond with chemical weapons of their