Israel set on collision course with Syria

IDF conducts threatening exercises on the Golan Heights. Syrian media claims Israel prepares for an attack. Suspicious of each other, both sides escalate military preparedness and consider preemption.
A successful war with Syria is Olmert’s only chance of winning the elections. Olmert similarly launched the Second Lebanon War to distract Israeli public from the political mismanagement.
The US accuses Syria of aiding Iraqi querrillas, and would love Israel to attack Syria.