Hello Jovial
God bless you this day

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2012/jovial528.htm

In responce to your post above:
You stated:
At the time Daniel was written, Israel was in exile in Babylon. Why would the mention of a Syrian god be of importance to them? It is not likely Daniel even knew who Astarte was.
And it is about the future. When the false Messiah rises, the above mentioned Syrian god will have been forgotten about by all but archeologists and few historians for several thousand years?
Who would have regard for such a long forgotten ' god' in our modern times? Why would this god be singled out for mention?
Why would we look to Syria for an answer to all ? Where does Syrian activity fit into the context of things at all ?

This is what God says concerning your questions;
Micah 1-7
Hear ALL ye people; O earth, and ALL therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.For BEHOLD, the Lord COMETH FORTH OUT OF HIS PLACE, and will COME DOWN, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that poured down a steep place. FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF JACOB IS ALL THIS, AND FOR THE SINS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
WHAT IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF JACOB? IS IT NOT SAMARIA ? AND WHAT ARE THE HIGH PLACES OF JUDAH ?
ARE THEY NOT JERUSALEM ? THEREFORE 'I WILL POUR DOWN THE STONES THEREOF INTO THE VALLEY. AND 'I WILL DISCOVER THE FOUNDATIONS THEREOF. AND ALL THE GRAVEN IMAGES THEREOF SHALL BE BEATEN INTO PEACES, AND ALL THE HIRES THEREOF SHALL BE BURNED WITH FIRE, AND ALL THE IDOLS THEREOF WILL 'I LAY DESOLATE: FOR SHE GATHERED [IT] OF THE HIRE OF AN HARLOT, AND THEY SHALL RETURN TO THE HIRE OF AN HARLOT.
VERSE 12
IN THAT DAY ALSO [HE] SHALL COME EVEN TO THEE FROM ASSYRIA, AND FROM THE FORTIFIED CITIES, AND FROM THE FORTRESS EVEN TO THE RIVER, AND FROM SEA TO SEA,AND MONTAIN TO MOUNTAN
Zechariah 11:17
"WOE to the IDOL shepard that leaveth the flock ! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

Chuck Missler " Antichrist an Alternative view"
Your question: Where does Syrian activity fit into the context of things at all ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFzB1PWhSWk&feature=relmfu


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VfjVsNFm7M&feature=relmmfu 

My post on Fivedoves May 22,2012
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2012/kml522.htm

goes into depth of who the AC is and explaining Zechariah 5:-11

The woman in the Ephah !  
Check out these links for pagan  IDOL Ishtar/ "god of forces"

http://www.bibliotecaplryades.net/esp_ishtar.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/sumer-faq.html

http://home.yashanet.com/judaism101/sidebars/ohr.htm

http://www.gatewaystobabylon.com/religion/nergalereshkigal2000.htm

http://www.matrifocus.com/SAM08/spotlight.htm

ISHTAR, MOTHER OF HARLOTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjsQDxNtwu8&feature=related

http://faerywolf.com/myth_asushunamir.htm

You see all this is where Syrian fits into the context of things TODAY and the future coming antichrist, as Daniel well knew.
This 'god ' is not long forgotten, she is very much in our faces if we have eyes to see, and know the word of God.
Jude 17-20
But , beloved, [remember] ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Ishtar is all about sensual lustly pleasures. a s/he [IT]
Not only did the angel who spoke  in Zech 5:5-11 call that which was in the Ephah a woman, but also refered to her as an (IT)
In the 2nd video of Chuck Missler.
She is being carried by TWO women/sisters with  wings of a stork. The stork is an unclean bird to the Jews, but Moses called upon the midianites to whom he was ruler over during the time after he fled Egypt after killing the egyptian, to gather ONE youngling stork bird for Every ONE man and raise it to hunt. When the storks were mature they were to hold back feeding them for THREE days, then they went to battle against the city. The storks were released and they ate all the snakes in the trenches outside the city and Moses and the midianites were able to overtake the city. God was with Moses and the Midianites.
Just a bit of Stork history.
please feel free to write me with any questions you may have.
kml.long8@gmail.com

Blessings to you all
KML