Syria, Iraq and the United States: A Gathering Storm

JINSA ^ | June 4, 2004 | Jonathan Howland

[Ooh-Ah]

Syria Funneling Terrorists and Weapons Into Iraq June 5 - U.S. military forces have discovered a smuggling ring moving copious quantities of explosives and weapons from Iraq to terrorist training camps constructed by the Saddam Hussein regime inside Syria prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)

[b4its2late]

Ooh-Ah is right....

[b4its2late]

While the United States demands Syrian accountability, European leaders continue to pursue a policy of "constructive engagement" via the recent Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement that established a free trade zone and diplomatic ties

Typical. Similar to when a Republican takes over the WH after a democrat, there's years of clean up that has to be done, we can look forward to Syria after the Euros find their constructive engagement did nothing but necessitate destructive engagement.......

[theDentist]

As much as I think we should be Syria bound, it might be easier to first roll to Iran (where the populate would support us), then move toward Syria, which would be much more difficult to overwhelm.

[sheltonmac]

Phase Two is going to be a much harder sell than Phase One. I think American voters in general are going to be more cautious and more critical of any evidence presented by U.S. intelligence sources. With public support for the president declining, administration officials may want to wait until after the election before talking about an attack on Syria.

Just an observation.

[Bonaparte]

Hey, Bashar! You have until November. Enjoy your remaining time in power.

[hershey]

But...but...none of this matters. It's all Bush's fault the 'Arab street' is mad at us, and of course, they want to go help their Iraqi brothers in their time of need. We're occupying their country, for heaven's sake. Besides, we haven't found any evidence of WMD's despite that silly little bomb with serin gas that showed up 10 days ago. It didn't kill 10,000 people, so it doesn't count. The CIA could have planted it between bouts of torture at that horrible prison. All this negative stuff about Syria and Iran is Bush spin. Arab fundamentalists just want to get along, that's all. We should understand their pride and sense of honor has been harmed by all our achievements that have enriched the world. This line of nonsense is a precis of what I had to put up with from my idiot son visiting from New Zealand. The Cambridge brainwashed elitist lunatic has gone back to his paradise...and I believe every wonderful thing he says about that country. They are blessed, but are also mentally where we were in the fifties...deluding themselves that isolationism will protect them from the world's evil. They're wearing blinders, and the earth has grown far too small for that to work these days.

[stylin_geek]

I suggest we contructively engage M1-Abrams, cruise missiles, and special forces in Syria.

[Brilliant]

It's a big problem, but an even bigger one is Iran.

[GOP_1900AD]

Nuke Damascus.

[demlosers]

Boy Assad sphincter will get tighter than Pelosi's plastic face when Bush wins in November.

[Billthedrill]

The insurgents within Iraq are concentrating on wrecking the infrastructure. These are almost certainly supported by Syrian assets. So what happens, I wonder, when the new Iraqi government brings this issue up before the UN Security Council? Normally nothing, of course, but this time the plaintiffs will have a couple of divisions of U.S. forces hovering to make the point for them. Does France veto it? Would it matter at all if they did? Interesting...

[tbpiper]

European leaders continue to pursue a policy of "constructive engagement"

My idea of 'constructive engagement' envolve an M249.

[nosofar]

"Iran (where the populate would support us), "

This can't be counted on. Supporting Irani dissidents is one thing. Many in Iran may not be too thrilled with the idea of armed American 'infidel' troops on their own soil. There would have to be a restricted and clearcut goal and it would have to be done quickly. No getting bogged down in nation building.

[theDentist]

Yeah, expecially those who are loyal to the mullahs, but each day the divisions grow wider. Eventually there will be a full scale civil war and a nudge from us could make it quick. I do agree, nation-building is the crux of it.

[Helms]

All in good time and an electoral landslide, relatively speaking.

[Helms]

Either way I'm hoping for the collapse of the sphincter muscles or a colostomy bag .......

[SJackson]

Our friends, the Syrians.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[dennisw]

What a wonderful psycho-regime. They manage to create a lot of mischief even though they have zero oil wealth