So I noticed this AP headline a few hours ago:

Report: Olmert will cede Golan for peace

Because that worked so well in Gaza?

The circumstances are a tad different: Israeli PM Ehud Olmert thinks that if he gives the Golan Heights to Syria, Bashar Assad will tell Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to take a flying leap, according to newspaper Yediot Ahronot. Interesting, because not even a year ago Syria was backing Hezbollah in its war with Israel. In fact, Syria harbors Hamas leader Khaled Meshal -- who, according to Shimon Peres, ordered the abduction of soldier Gilad Shalit in a raid from Gaza that touched off the conflict on the Lebanese border, as well.

But the results would be the same: Disaster.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has acknowledged that when Israel moved out of Gaza, al-Qaida moved in. In fact, a group claiming to be linked to al-Qaida has made BBC correspondent Alan Johnston the longest-held captive to date in Gaza. Viewing the pullout as an Israeli defeat, militants saw Gaza as a launching pad for rocket attacks on Israel. Fatah (pictured toting their toys) and Hamas fight openly in the street, catching other Palestinians in the crossfire, with token daylong cease-fires peppering the violence. The factional fighting is so out of control that many Gaza residents find themselves preferring the days of the Israeli presence, according to a recent Reuters story.

What would happen if Syria accepted Olmert's purported offer? I can guarantee this: Syria won't give up its BFF Iran. Bashar Assad's friends are fewer and farther in between, and there's nothing like the friendship of an increasingly powerful Iran to ensure his dictatorial seat. You can ask who's got his back, and who's got his back who's also about to have nukes. Just a few months ago, Assad and Ahmadinejad got cozy and renewed their alliance -- especially against their common enemy, Israel. Assad would renege on any such offer faster than you could say West Bank, and would triumphantly lift up Golan as one more notch toward eliminating Israel.

Don't do it, Olmert...