"Links?
[..and why were these not bombed?]"
Another comment on Syria I thought. A constant thorn in our sides. Not our enemies but certainly not our friends. The Syrians were allowing cross-border traffic into and out of Iraq. "Get (Army Colonel Gary)Harrell and (Major General Dell) Dailey to work up at lest an aviation screen along that border," I said to Gene Renuart. "We're going to put a crimp in that traffic."
"Okay, Boss," Gene said.
exercpt from Tommy Franks "American Soldier" page 281 Chapter titled "A Campaign Unlike Any Other"
IMHO sounds like they did what they could to bomb the traffic.
Bush took a huge political hit over the missing WMD's, one that could have cost him the election. Throughout this whole period, he was sitting on evidence of the WMD transfer to Syria, evidence that could have vindicated him, and he chose not to use it. One can only speculate why, but he must have seen a strategic advantage in not doing so. As events continue to unfold, this will all become clearer.
But in Bush we have a man who risked his own career to do what he knew was right for the country and the world. I can't imagine his predecessor, or the one who sought to replace him doing anything like this. They would have thrown out anything to save their own political skins, with no concern at all about what the downside might be.
This is leadership.