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Syria on Edge Over U.S.-Iraq Fighting
AP ^ | 5/18/5 | DONNA ABU-NASR

Posted on 05/18/2005 12:59:42 PM PDT by SmithL

DEIR EZ ZOUR, Syria -- In this remote corner of Syria where the Euphrates River cuts a lush strip through empty desert, fighting between U.S. Marines and Iraqi insurgents just across the border has people on edge.

Artillery shells that strayed from Iraq during last week's battles injured several Syrians, townspeople complain. And Syria's government is again on the defensive against U.S. accusations that it allows fighters to cross its territory.

On Wednesday, a top U.S. military official charged that Iraq's recent surge of bombings and other insurgent violence could be traced to a meeting in Syria about a month ago by lieutenants of extremist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and possibly attended by the Jordanian militant himself.

Syrian officials had no immediate comment. But earlier Wednesday, the government newspaper denied Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's accusation that Syria still lets foreign militants cross into Iraq.

The newspaper said Syria's government is pursuing "all-out efforts" to ensure Iraq's stability and has made clear it is ready to cooperate with Iraqis and Americans to ensure a secure border.

Syria won't allow journalists near the border town of Abu Kamal, 75 miles downstream from Deir Ez Zour and just across the border from the Iraqi town of Qaim, where some of the heaviest fighting raged during a weeklong Marine offensive against insurgent hideouts.

But a few of Abu Kamal's 70,000 residents — reached by telephone — spoke of watching airstrikes and battles three miles away in Qaim.

"It made us feel with our Iraqi brothers. A lot of innocent people were hurt in the offensive," said Bassem Abu Jalal, a 23-year-old businessman.

Several people in Abu Kamal were wounded by stray artillery shells, including a 10-year-old boy, townspeople said.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: guiltyconscience; iraq; syria; syrias; taqiyya
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Can you hear me now?
1 posted on 05/18/2005 12:59:42 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
Several people in Abu Kamal were wounded by stray artillery shells, including a 10-year-old boy

How many puppies and kitties were injured by American shells?

2 posted on 05/18/2005 1:01:40 PM PDT by zarf
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To: SmithL
But a few of Abu Kamal's 70,000 residents — reached by telephone — spoke of watching airstrikes and battles three miles away in Qaim.

If I were them I'd consider myself lucky that it's still 3 miles away.

3 posted on 05/18/2005 1:01:59 PM PDT by b4its2late (Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.)
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To: SmithL

.......CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!


4 posted on 05/18/2005 1:02:26 PM PDT by marmar (Even though I may look different then you...my blood runs red, white and blue.....)
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To: SmithL
"Having the Americans right on the border fighting in Iraq, there's always going to be a possibility that that's going to spill over"

We call it "heading down the road to Damascus".

5 posted on 05/18/2005 1:03:05 PM PDT by Numbers Guy
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To: SmithL

The USAF should break out a MOAB and drop it near the Syrian border...hahahahahahaha.

Just to start things off.


6 posted on 05/18/2005 1:06:34 PM PDT by in hoc signo vinces ("Soylent green is people!")
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To: SmithL

Live in fear, Syrian dogs! No, wait, that's an insult to dogs.


7 posted on 05/18/2005 1:09:02 PM PDT by American Quilter
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To: in hoc signo vinces

Lets just drop a fuel air explosive on Damascus and finish this already. The muslims will never like us so quite frankly they can kiss our asses.


8 posted on 05/18/2005 1:10:08 PM PDT by Xenophon450
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If the muslims had our military technology and numbers and organization do you think they would hesitate One second about doing a massive holocaust that makes hitlers look like a sunday school class...


9 posted on 05/18/2005 1:13:18 PM PDT by Xenophon450
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To: b4its2late

"If I were them I'd consider myself lucky that it's still 3 miles away."

If the conflict with the terrorists has moved that close to the Syrian border, you can be sure that the Syrian military is starting to sweat a bit.

Since if the conflict DOES cross the border, it won't be very long before some of Saddam's 'missing' WMDs are found!, IMHO.


10 posted on 05/18/2005 1:14:47 PM PDT by spoiler2
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To: Xenophon450

Too bad the hippies had their way...and the USAF disposed of its surplus NAPALM after VIETNAM. Nothing quite like the sight of a flight of B-52G's dropping that kind of ordinance.

I could see a good use for it...if the Syrians continue to allow islamofacists across the border.

Honestly, I dont think ASSAD wants those guys in his country...because if they're fighting us in Iraq, they're not trying to over throw him. He wants them dead just as much as we do, but he doesnt have the stones to turn his country around.

Basically, a MOAB is one large fuel air bomb.


11 posted on 05/18/2005 1:16:57 PM PDT by in hoc signo vinces ("Soylent green is people!")
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To: Dog

fyi


12 posted on 05/18/2005 1:17:33 PM PDT by Cap Huff
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To: zarf

Now you know how Israel feels you slimy bastards!


13 posted on 05/18/2005 1:19:04 PM PDT by bubman
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To: SmithL

"But a few of Abu Kamal's 70,000 residents — reached by telephone — spoke of watching airstrikes and battles three miles away in Qaim. "It made us feel with our Iraqi brothers. A lot of innocent people were hurt in the offensive," said Bassem Abu Jalal, a 23-year-old businessman.
Several people in Abu Kamal were wounded by stray artillery shells, including a 10-year-old boy, townspeople said."

I don't believe this is accurate reporting. One only has to look at somewhat detailed maps of that border area to see that Kamal is perhaps more then 5 miles NE of Al Qaim (Qusaybab). And our artillery batteries could never fire off target by that amount. They with a good GPS reading and appropriate offset calculations by the spotter will put the first or second round right on target. Surely not off by even a hundred meters on the first round. Our Marines are well tranined in making making an accurate offset from the actual GPS reading. So I think this is a bunch of Bull****.
Just more lies. Or terrorist groups where deliberately lobing mortars into the town to make it look like it came from us.


14 posted on 05/18/2005 1:19:42 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: Numbers Guy

"Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city,and it shall be a ruinous heap."


15 posted on 05/18/2005 1:19:55 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: spoiler2

I agree.


16 posted on 05/18/2005 1:25:24 PM PDT by b4its2late (Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.)
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To: Marine_Uncle


Yep it's the ole throw down..."Lets skew the news to make it sound like the US was intentionally targeting civilians." ploy. I am surprised it was only one ten year old boy...and not a grammar school for blind girls...or sumpin.

I could see an ARTIE battery being tasked with a fire mission against retreating militants crossing the border. And I'd pin a medal on the officer balsy enough to okay that.


17 posted on 05/18/2005 1:25:39 PM PDT by in hoc signo vinces ("Soylent green is people!")
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To: sheik yerbouty

Seeing a city such as damascus bein reduced to ruin its a shame because its one of the oldest cities in the World. Well constantly lived in anyway. Many millenia its seen but i guess everything has to end its a shame really being i love history and would love to visit it if not for all the Islamofascists.


18 posted on 05/18/2005 1:26:39 PM PDT by Xenophon450
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To: Marine_Uncle

Several people in Abu Kamal were wounded by stray artillery shells, including a 10-year-old boy, townspeople said."



True enough.
Good ole Abdul Mohammet, probably shot a few of his friends, neighbors and their children for the propaganda purposes, and world sympathy just like ALL ARAB MUSLIMS DO...

Somebody needs to wipe these evil doers out. No matter what country they are hiding in. Syria should be destroyed for their support of world terror.


19 posted on 05/18/2005 1:27:07 PM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (The minutemen are 'vigilantes' doncha know?)
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To: Marine_Uncle
The "Arab Street" has learned. Just make accusations of civilians casualties and the MSM will give it headline attention. If they later turn out to be false, no one will mention it.

You can win a war without winning a single battle if the international media will take your word for everything. If you are claiming a grievance against the US, they will.

20 posted on 05/18/2005 1:28:08 PM PDT by Dilbert56
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