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What Happened in Syria?
WSJ ^ | 10/20/07 | PETER HOEKSTRA and ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

Posted on 10/23/2007 5:14:25 PM PDT by dervish

Over the last few weeks, State Department officials have reported major diplomatic breakthroughs that will roll back North Korea's nuclear weapons program, allow Pyongyang to be removed from the U.S. state sponsors of terror list, and normalize relations between our two countries.

North Korea reportedly has agreed to disable its nuclear facilities and has, as it has done many times before, promised to give a full accounting of its nuclear program. The latest deadline is Dec. 31, 2007. Congress has been asked to support this agreement, which State Department officials claim will benefit our nation and promote regional stability.

Then, early last month, Israel conducted an airstrike against a facility in northern Syria that press reports have linked to nuclear programs by North Korea, Iran or other rogue states. If this event proves that Syria acquired nuclear expertise or material from North Korea, Iran or other rogue states, it would constitute a grave threat to international security for which Syria and any other involved parties must be held accountable.

Bush administration, however, has thrown an unprecedented veil of secrecy around the Israeli airstrike. It has briefed only a handful of very senior members of Congress, leaving the vast majority of foreign relations and intelligence committee members in the dark. We are among the very few who were briefed, but we have been sworn to secrecy on this matter. However, we are prepared to state, based on what we have learned, that it is critical for every member of Congress to be briefed on this incident...

'snip'

Until Congress is fully briefed, it would be imprudent for the administration to move forward with agreements with state proliferators. Congress must be a full partner in this process and, from this point forward, must be kept dutifully and currently informed about this matter.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 110th; airstrikes; hoekstra; iaf; israel; jveritaswmdsyria; mapwmd; nkorea; northkorea; nuclear; roslehtinen; sept6; sept62007; statedepartment; statedept; syria; syriannukes; syrianraid; translatemap; wmd; wmdmap
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To: NonValueAdded
I don't understand people trying to turn this around on W.

NK is on the axis of evil, remember?

The WH staved off Israel's attack; (they wanted to go in June/Julyish) and would NOT have caught NK red-handed if they hadn't waited.

Now the whole world knows NK is not about non-proliferation.

The only congressman who could gripe about not being briefed would be Kuchinich, who just happened to be in Syria on 9/6. And why was he there? Was Pelosi trying to warn Assad when she visited (about the time Israel wanted to strike), too?

Between Kennedy and Rockefeller (warning Saddam) and Pelosi and Kucinich, you think *W* needs exposing? Hello?

41 posted on 10/23/2007 8:37:48 PM PDT by txhurl (Yes there were WMDs)
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To: El Gato

It is very hard to tell, it can be real or it canbe just a rumor that the author of the letter is spreading.


42 posted on 10/23/2007 8:39:24 PM PDT by jveritas (God bless our brave troops and President Bush)
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To: dervish

I would appreciate mail. Thank you.


43 posted on 10/23/2007 8:41:50 PM PDT by Jedidah
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To: dervish; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; KlueLass; ...
North Korea reportedly has agreed to disable its nuclear facilities and has, as it has done many times before, promised to give a full accounting of its nuclear program. The latest deadline is Dec. 31, 2007. Congress has been asked to support this agreement... Then, early last month, Israel conducted an airstrike against a facility in northern Syria that press reports have linked to nuclear programs by North Korea, Iran or other rogue states. If this event proves that Syria acquired nuclear expertise or material from North Korea, Iran or other rogue states, it would constitute a grave threat to international security for which Syria and any other involved parties must be held accountable. Bush administration, however, has thrown an unprecedented veil of secrecy around the Israeli airstrike... Until Congress is fully briefed, it would be imprudent for the administration to move forward with agreements with state proliferators. Congress must be a full partner in this process and, from this point forward, must be kept dutifully and currently informed about this matter.

44 posted on 10/23/2007 8:43:21 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Monday, October 22, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

ping


45 posted on 10/23/2007 8:44:01 PM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: KylaStarr; Cindy; StillProud2BeFree; nw_arizona_granny; Velveeta; Dolphy; appalachian_dweller; ...

This is interesting


46 posted on 10/23/2007 8:46:44 PM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: dervish

Mail, please.


47 posted on 10/23/2007 8:52:11 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: Calpernia

Very much so, thanks.


48 posted on 10/23/2007 8:54:24 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: Army Air Corps; Dog; jeffers; shield

9/6 ping


49 posted on 10/23/2007 9:03:39 PM PDT by txhurl (Yes there were WMDs)
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To: txflake

One thing is certain, Syria’s new Russian toys were s***.

Netantahu said that when the facts were revealed that people would be stunned. I can only imagine how Israel and her friends plan to reveal the particulars of 6 September 2007 (a red letter day on our calendars).


50 posted on 10/23/2007 9:09:27 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: dervish

I could use some mail


51 posted on 10/23/2007 9:11:29 PM PDT by coon2000
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To: NonValueAdded; Perdogg; silverleaf; txflake; El Gato
NVA - Sounds to me like this is NOT an unnamed sources issue but rather two Congresscritters coming out by name and staking their own reputations, calling foul. NK must have been caught red-handed and the White House is ready to give them a complete pass. If so, then exposing it is an act of courage.

El Gato - They aren't revealing squat, but are asking that Congress be better briefed. Seems like they are worried the State Department might give away the farm... again.

Both of you guys have grasped the essential issue here. Unfortunately, very few folks in this and other threads on this subject seem to be able to see things clearly.

The Administration and the State Department are indeed in the process of giving away the farm with respect to North Korea and Israel. These two Congressmen are to be commended for their courage in trying to hold them accountable.

52 posted on 10/23/2007 9:13:08 PM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: txflake
The only thing they should expose is that N. Korea is caught red-handed while transferring their nuke technology to Syria. I don't see why this should be kept in secret if N. Korea actually did commit such an act.

If not true, they can flat-out deny the fact. Judging from what two congressmen suggest, N. Korea was involved in such a fashion. I don't see how making such a news public will jeopardize national security except derailing 6-party talks and peace-and-pomp charade State Dept. is concocting. Do we face a dire national security catastrophe unless we ignore N. Korean double-crossing? Do our situation degenerate to a degree that it is the only way to avert national security catastrophe?

53 posted on 10/23/2007 9:14:17 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (kim jong-il, chia head, ppogri, In Grim Reaper we trust)
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To: Perdogg

I’m in total agreement with you. STFU...you congressional turds.


54 posted on 10/23/2007 9:14:28 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: dervish

Sure..I need mail.


55 posted on 10/23/2007 9:15:48 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: Perdogg
I thought that perhaps Israel had bombed the materials that were transported to Syria from Iraq by Russian convoys just prior to the onset of war in 2003. This hit destroyed the WMD’s that were never found in Iraq. Now there is alot about North Korea and I’m really, really confused by the timelines and collusion.
56 posted on 10/23/2007 9:17:45 PM PDT by MHT
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To: tarheelswamprat
It is sad to see that so many come out here to defend such a reprehensible scheme engineered by State Dept. A rather transparent attempt to cover up the inconvenient truth in the name of operational secrecy. In the process, they are smearing two congressmen from their party.

Exactly what harm does it do to reveal that Israeli really hit the nuclear facilities in Syria? Everybody knows Israeli hit something. We are not interested in how they hit the target and insert the personnel. All we want to know is what was exactly the target. Because it will determine if funding N. Korea aid is justified or not.

This matter can be easily resolved that administration declare that N. Korea is indeed involved and terminate the N. Korea aid plan. Why do they make things so complicated? Unless admin is bent on appeasing N. Korea.

57 posted on 10/23/2007 9:25:34 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (kim jong-il, chia head, ppogri, In Grim Reaper we trust)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Correction: This matter can be easily resolved thatif administration declare
58 posted on 10/23/2007 9:30:10 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (kim jong-il, chia head, ppogri, In Grim Reaper we trust)
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To: tarheelswamprat
Giving away the farm?

The operation rendered our enemies' air defense demonstrably futile.

This is what I'd call fortressing the farm. But you think otherwise. Tell me.

59 posted on 10/23/2007 9:33:37 PM PDT by txhurl (Yes there were WMDs)
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To: eleni121

she’s Cuban, a Republican, a supporter of the Iraq war, anti-Islamo fascist, and pro Israel. Geez...


60 posted on 10/23/2007 9:40:55 PM PDT by dervish (Pray for the peace of an UNDIVIDED JEWISH Jerusalem)
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