Here is an interesting bit of information:
“The weekend news of the capture came on the eve of a previously planned meeting Monday between David Satterfield, deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, and Syrian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud. And it follows the unprecidented demonstrations in Lebanon. Just a coincidence?”
http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/02/syrias_gestures.html
We know this guy Satterfield will be carrying a clear message from Sec. State Rice to boy Assad.
We'll see what happens in the next few days . . .
Saturday's Baghdad newspaper Al-Mada reported that Syria provided information that led Iraqi authorities to breaking up 35 insurgent cells in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and arresting some 750 suspected militants.
Was buried in this AP Sunday night note:
Newsview: Syria May Be Bowing to Pressure ( May be??? )
Also I included a news note from Lebanon Sunday night on the same thread stating:
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -
Several thousand anti-Syrian protesters took to Beirut's streets late Sunday in defiance of a government ban, while a visiting U.S. official kept up Washington's pressure on Syria by calling on it to withdraw its 15,000 troops from Lebanon following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri earlier this month.