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Col. McMaster said his men killed scores of the enemy in a series of firefights up and down the tight streets of the crossroads between Syria, where insurgents train...

Shortly after the attacks of 9/11/01, the President made these and other remarks in a speech to the American people:

Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war? We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network.

This war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with a decisive liberation of territory and a swift conclusion. It will not look like the air war above Kosovo two years ago, where no ground troops were used and not a single American was lost in combat.

Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. (Applause.) From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.

Mr. President, it sounds to me like Syria has met your requirements for a hostile regime. It is time to do what you said you were going to do.

re: It is time to do what you said you were going to do.

You know, I wonder if maybe he isn't doing just that, but in a very roundabout way. Syria is probably afraid to just up and attack these people or kick them out of the country. These terrorists have a pretty clear, and gruesome, track record when it comes to dealing with countries that don't support them. Perhaps, and it's just a PERHAPS, the "wink-wink" agreement with Syria is that they will let these guys come over the border and then we'll handle it from there. This approach can let Syria continue to appear to not oppose them, but at the same time get rid of them. The concept of saving face is of utmost importance in this part of the world. I don't really think it's so, but I would not discount the possibility that Syria is providing info about when these guys are ready to cross the border. Just a thought.