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Syria-Lebanon | |||
Syria sends Iranian weapons to Hezbollah | |||
2004-02-06 | |||
Syria has resumed weapons transfers to anti-Israel guerrillas based in Lebanon, including a covert shipment of weapons from Iran smuggled aboard a Syrian cargo plane that had delivered earthquake relief, American and Israeli officials say.
The reports of the weapons shipment appear to derail hopes among some American officials and experts on Syria that the government of President Bashar al-Assad might take a cue from Libya and reach out to the United States and other Western nations. Except for Lebanon, which is controlled by Syrian proxies, Syria is surrounded by pro-American governments, with more than 130,000 allied troops across the border in Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who met with Mr. Assad last summer, told The Washington Post this week that the Syrians "need to take a hard look at what’s happening in their neighborhood and see whether or not they want to modify some of their policies." Mr. Powell’s spokesman, Richard A. Boucher, said Mr. Powell had been explicit about the need truly to crack down on terrorists, "not just close the office, but make it impossible for them to operate." On a visit last month to Turkey, President Assad discussed the possibility that the Turkish government might help mediate between Washington and Damascus. "They are definitely on a new path, and the messages they gave to the U.S. are all positive," a Turkish official said, adding that his government is ready to sponsor talks.
In an interview with The New York Times in November, Mr. Assad called on the United States to reinitiate talks between his nation and Israel. But when Israel’s president, Moshe Katsav, issued a direct invitation last month, Syria backed away, complaining of "media maneuvers." Edward P. Djerejian, a former ambassador to Syria, said Mr. Assad was trying to reposition himself in a regional landscape that had changed. "There is certainly a reassessment going on in Damascus about its policy approach toward the United States and the region," Mr. Djerejian said. "They’re reaching out now in a way they never have." Administration officials are eager to point out that Syria stands to benefit from a prosperous Iraq next door, with the numerous prospects for trade and investment, but they say Mr. Assad may not feel he has the political strength to confront an old guard of anti-American advisers. Mr. Assad’s ambivalence seemed on display in his interview with The Times. He said Syria had already complied with many American demands, yet he was quick to criticize the American-led alliance’s difficulties in Iraq. He said any thought of Iraq as a regional model had disappeared for most Syrians in the face of the continuing violence there. "I think before the war on Iraq, some thought about this," he said. "Most of them now think this is a bad example of bringing democracy."
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Posted by:Dan Darling |
#4 Mike, I favor early elections. Really early elections. |
Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-6 11:04:02 AM |
#3 There's a photo of Bashar Assad on the NY Times page, and I am reminded of Heinrich Himmler every time I see that guy's mug. Just put on a small pair of spectacles, and.... |
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-2-6 10:58:43 AM |
#2 On a visit last month to Turkey, President Assad discussed the possibility that the Turkish government might help mediate between Washington and Damascus. Assad knows that the US will be, once again, suckered by Turk promises to deliver that never materialize. So why not pretend to cooperate in this manner. You need read no further than the first sentence of this article which tells you all you really need to know about Syria's intentions and the intentions of the religion of piss. Syria has resumed weapons transfers to anti-Israel guerrillas based in Lebanon, including a covert shipment of weapons from Iran smuggled aboard a Syrian cargo plane that had delivered earthquake relief, American and Israeli officials say. |
Posted by: B 2004-2-6 10:53:01 AM |
#1 Should Syria's new provisional government be established through a caucus system or through direct elections? I suppose we'll follow the model that we eventually use in Iraq. |
Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-2-6 1:22:14 AM |