Armitage Assures Syrians We Won't Get Them Next

Arabic News ^ | 4/9/2003 | N/A

[Defiant]

Armitaj: we will not attack Syria.. But our relations are difficult
Syria-USA, Politics, 4/9/2003

US Department of State official, Richard Armitaj, yesterday expressed his hope that Damascus would have stopped sending supplies and fighters to Iraq and blocked its borders before any non -humanitarian supplies.

He repeated his saying that the USA does not intent to attack Syria despite the many sources of "concerns from it." Armitaj was referring to the recent American accusations and criticism to Syria accusing it of providing Iraq of equipment of military and civilian use including night vision goggles as well as permitting Arab fighters to arrive in Iraq through Syria to fight against the US.

During his meeting with Arab media correspondents in Washington, Armitaj said that his government proposed "srong complaints to the Syrian government on our positions concerning the situation on the borders in recent weeks."

Armitaj's statements were in remarks to contacts between the Syrian and American governments through their embassies, before the public statements and warnings made recently between the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy Paul Wolfwitz and the US Secretary of State Colin Powell. On fears of countries neighboring Iraq like Iran and Syria to be exposed to military attacks in the future, Armitaj said "we will not attack Syria."

In the course of his statement on the "successive steps" following the war against Iraq, he said that the American concentration now is on supporting Iraq to rule itself. But he indicated he expects the change in Iraq to have a direct influence on the neighboring countries.

[Defiant]

What's this guy doing giving comfort to Syria when we should be making them quake in their boots? Powell has refused to clean house (of the Clintonites) at the State Dept. the way Rumsfeld did at the Pentagon. It's time.

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[Wiggins]

Foggy Bottom strikes again.

[kevao]

What's this guy doing giving comfort to Syria when we should be making them quake in their boots?

We don't want to lose the element of surprise.

[Maedhros]

Umm ... Assyria is in Iraq.

[TopQuark]

The title is incorrect and misleading: this has nothing to do with Assyrians (Syrians is not the same thing).

IF your follow the link, you will find the following title:

Armitaj: we will not attack Syria.. But our relations are difficult

Admin Moderator, please correct the title.

[Red Dog #1]

Looks to me like this might be a veiled threat.

[Defiant]

The historical Assyria stretches from Syria into Iraq, but is not "in" Iraq. Where do you think Syria's name comes from?

[TopQuark]

You are right: most of it is in Iraq. But it does include some parts of western Syria as well.

I have no idea why Defiant decided to put in his own title.

[headsonpikes]

"Armitage Assures Assyrians"

Have him say something to the Philistines and Edomites as well.

;^)

[headsonpikes]

And the Hittites; they're always neglected.

[discostu]

It's important that Syria (and Iran and North Korea and whoever else) see a way out. If they think we're going to invade them regardless there's no reason for them to stop supporting terror and reform their government. If we can get these countries in line without invasion it'll be better all around.

[ConservativeDude]

What about the Moabites?

[ChicagoRepublican]

Armitage is the most conservative person in the whole US government. He is also the toughest. This guy is a former Navy SEAL who at his advanced age can still bench 300 pounds. He is one of the few people in the State Department that I respect.

[Defiant]

LOL. I have no idea why this guy cares so much about Syria being identified with Assyria. The Assads and the ruling class of Syria are part of that odd sect of Islam that was popular with the Assyrians after the Moslem conquest, and are different from Iraqi Arabs, in spite of their professed Arab nationalism. I am just pointing out that now that we have taken out the successors to the Babylonians, we will have to pursue the successors to the Assyrians.

[headsonpikes]

"What about the Moabites?"

They p*ssed off God before the Arabs did. Gone.

[headsonpikes]

I was just having fun...it's that kind of day. ;^)

And after the 'Assyrians', the Medes and Persians?

We'd best keep an eye peeled for the Scythians!

[NewMexLurker]

OK, Medes and Persians was a no-brainer. I'm impressed by the Scythian reference, though.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Moabites are still waiting for the French to return their stone from the Louvre (it's a stone with an inscription by King Mesha from around 850 B.C.).

The ancient Assyrians lived in northern Iraq, but the name Assyrian is used by a present-day Christian church in the area (distinct from the Chaldeans, who are in union with Rome).

[Diddle E. Squat]

Like Mene mene tekel upharsin?

Your country for a bowl of lentils?