ABC News has an exclusive today that says the Syria strike was a nuclear facility, and that the U.S. stopped Israel from striking earlier.

The September Israeli airstrike on a suspected nuclear site in Syria had been in the works for months, ABC News has learned, and was delayed only at the strong urging of the United States.

In early July the Israelis presented the United States with satellite imagery that they said showed a nuclear facility in Syria. They had additional evidence that they said showed that some of the technology was supplied by North Korea.

One U.S. official told ABC’s Martha Raddatz the material was “jaw dropping” because it raised questions as to why U.S. intelligence had not previously picked up on the facility.

Yeah, that would be the same intelligence that didn’t pick up on al Qaeda and 9/11. Good to know they’re just as crappy now as they were then. I feel so safe. Not.

Officials said that the facility had likely been there for months if not years.

“Israel tends to be very thorough about its intelligence coverage, particularly when it takes a major military step, so they would not have acted without data from several sources,” said ABC military consultant Tony Cordesman.

A senior U.S. official said the Israelis planned to strike during the week of July 14 and in secret high-level meetings American officials argued over how to respond to the intelligence.

Some in the administration supported the Israeli action, but others, notably Sect. of State Condoleeza Rice did not. One senior official said the U.S. convinced the Israelis to “confront Syria before attacking.”

Officials said they were concerned about the impact an attack on Syria would have on the region. And given the profound consequences of the flawed intelligence in Iraq, the U.S. wanted to be absolutely certain the intelligence was accurate.

Gee, good idea. Let Syria know you know about their secret nuclear weapons site, so they can move it and hide it somewhere else.

If you want to see the recap of what’s been going on with Syria this year, click here. That’s the last 30 or so posts including a Syria tag. All of the military analysis is predicated on the fact that the Syrians would use conventional weapons, as well as possibly chemical and biological agents. In the meantime, Syria is working with North Korea (doubtless funded by Iran) to hopscotch over the little details of developing scientific knowledge yourself—which takes decades—to simply buy instant Israeli destruction. Thanks so much, effing Pakistan, and France, for helping spread nuclear technology beyond the original five nations. Now Russia is working with Iran to do the same, and Iran is working on an ICBM that can reach the U.S. Europe is already within reach.

And watch: From the left and from the Israel-haters, they will insist that Israel’s intelligence was cooked. This, in spite of North Korea’s reaction, and in spite of the fact that Syria has had nothing to say, and has not demanded a UN investigation, or a Security Council or General Assembly resolution condemning the raid.

That silence speaks volumes.

It was nukes.

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Yet another demand from the Palestinians who, when last I checked, were the vanquished, not the victors, in the Intifada.

Ahmed Qureia, head of the Palestinian team to negotiate a peace agreement with Israel said on Saturday that there was no way Palestinians would attend the upcoming international peace conference unless a declaration of principles was formed.

In an interview to Saudi newspaper al-Watan, Qureia was asked what the Palestinians’ stance would be if a declaration of principles was not reached before the November conference to be held in Annapolis.

“If that happens, the situation won’t be good, and we will have to decide between two alternatives: To go or not to go (to the conference). The content of the document is the important thing. If the document contains vague statements – it should not be composed at all”, Qureia said.

The former PA prime minister added that a Palestinian state without Jerusalem or the Gaza Strip would not be considered a state to Palestinians.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Gaza is an internal matter, not one that Israel has any say over.

Truly unbelievable chutzpah, but hey, the world has indulged the Palestinian fantasy that they deserve everything they want, and so, it is not surprising. Nor is this:

In Friday’s meeting, Abbas told his guests that a solution for Jerusalem would be key to any peace deal. Israelis and Palestinians both claim the city as a capital.

“Jerusalem has always been in our hearts, and the hope that we have been looking at,” Abbas was quoted as saying. “There is no independent Palestinian state without Jerusalem as its capital. It is a concern in the coming, difficult days.”

It’s always been in their hearts, except it wasn’t from the years 1948 to 1967, when Jordan controlled it. Funny, that. And it’s not even mentioned in the Koran. Only when the Jews managed to take control over what used to be the Jewish part of Jerusalem did the Muslim world suddenly care. Temple Mount. There first. There last. They’ll never get it back. Not even Olmert is that stupid.