Rice Sees Evidence Syria-Based Group Behind Bombing

Reuters News Service ^ | March 1 , 2005 | Reuters

[Semper Paratus]

LONDON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cited what she called "firm evidence" on Tuesday that the Islamic Jihad militant group helped plan last week's Tel Aviv suicide bombing from Syria. "There is firm evidence that Palestinian Islamic Jihad, sitting in Damascus, not only knew about the attacks, but was involved in the planning," Rice told ABC News in an interview according to an excerpt provided by the U.S. television network.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

[Howlin]

Wow, THIS is what it's like to have a SoS with balls.

ROFLMAO.

And she's only been in office for a month!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Action Alert.

[DCPatriot]

Dr. Rice is turning out to be the most powerful Secretary of State in history.

Stop Bogarting the bong.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Forget my suggestion.

[Nate1984]

Great post!

[Howlin]

[Semper Paratus]

I hope we kick the stuffing out of Syria.

"These boots are made for walking,"
"And that's just what they do"
"One of these days these boots are going to"
"Walk all over You"

N. Sinatra

[Howlin]

I say we bring the troops home from Iraq through Syria.

[Coldwater Creek]

Well it did not take a rocket scientist to figure this out. I have been saying that Syria has been in the thick of the terrorist world for ever. Finally we are calling them on their actions.

[Billthedrill]

Interesting - I'd love to know what the evidence is. Usually there's at least an attempt to mask it through an unknown third group unless the parent organization actually wanted to be given "credit." Problem is, "credit" is kind of risky these days. This isn't exactly a "shadowy group" in Syria - they have an office building in Damascus. HERE's some background on the Hamas/Islamic Jihad connection.

I do not believe Syria will leave the facilities in the Bekaa valley they've controlled since the 80's, not willingly at least. They have far too much money invested in the place, and it would devolve to complete control by Iranian-funded Hezbollah, not the best of neighbors for even the Syrians. They will attempt to maintain their intelligence facilities and de facto control even if their troops make a show of departing. And we may well be brought into indirect conflict with Iran in taking on Hezbollah - that isn't outside the realm of possibility.

[Coldwater Creek]

BIG GRIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dog]

It looks like Israel shared the intel they had.

It(intel) had to be a smoking gun..

[OneTimeLurker]

Well the did claim responsibility and all. I don't think she is going out on a limb by implicating them.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I say we bring the troops home from Iraq through Syria.

Sounds good to me, they can check out what's in the Bakaa Valeey on their WAY!!!

Do you keep track of all the really good pictures...?

[Howlin]

What do you mean?

[zerosix]

He, he, he . . ."The bombs will start dropping in 10 minures." Ronald Reagan

[Coldwater Creek]

If they won't leave on their own, then the U.S. Marines ought to escort them into the closest sea!!!!!!!!!!!!

[r9etb]

I am so tired of diplomats whitewashing and downplaying reality simply to score points or avoid 'diplomatic gaffes'. Who cares if someone's feelings get hurt. Tell us the truth so we can respond appropriately.

The problem with what you're saying is diplomats are not dealing with "reality" per se, but rather with peoples' emotional responses to reality. Straight talk is not always the best way to defuse a problem -- sometimes it's best to defuse a situation by allowing the other guy to back off without losing face.

"Telling it like it is" certainly has its place, but it carries along with it an explicit threat, which can be reliably counted upon to provoke a "fight or flight" response from the other side. Too much plain-spokenness tends also to provoke a lot of unhelpful resentments from lots of other countries, friends and enemies alike.

Sort of off-topic, but I'm guessing that you work in a technical/engineering-type field of some sort. Am I correct?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It's a note of respect!!!

[Darkwolf377]

"Well it did not take a rocket scientist to figure this out. I have been saying that Syria has been in the thick of the terrorist world for ever. "

Practically everyone has been saying it, from Bush on down. The point is that we now have a SoS whose rhetorical approach is a little more American than EuroPEON. Her whole attitude seems to be not one of dismissing the Powell approach but of saying "OK, you've had four years, get it in gear."