Rice blocked plan for raids on Syria

UPI ^ | May 2, 2003 | Richard Sale

[FairOpinion]

I hope Condi Rice isn't catching the timidity from Powell. If we would go into Syria now, clean it up in a few weeks, what would anyone say? Nothing. As they say, "it's easier to get forgiveness than permission", not that we need forgiveness for pursuing terrorists and WMD going from Iraq to Syria. Bush could have used the momentum he had to get it done.

I am disappointed that Rice and Rove want to put artificial limits on what Bush does.

[xm177e2]

Timidity? I trust Condi to make these decisions. Just as going to war isn't always a bad thing, we shouldn't rush off just because some leftists are against it. A war in Syria would be a terrible, terrible mistake. They would not welcome us the way the Iraqis are.

[Mr. Jeeves]

In response to Halevy's entreaties for action, Rice repeated her assertion of no more military adventures for the rest of Bush's first term, according to sources with knowledge of the meeting.

I doubt an adviser as savvy as Condoleeza Rice would ever say such a thing, knowing that if it got out, it would give a signal to Al Qaeda operatives and their allies that the heat was off.

[billorites]

brief across-the-border forays under "hot pursuit" rules of engagement

Didn't we do this in Cambodia?

[FairOpinion]

"A war in Syria would be a terrible, terrible mistake. They would not welcome us the way the Iraqis are. "
---

How do you know that?

[green team 1999]

ditto

[Diogenesis]

Many Syrians and MOST LEBANESE would cheer, wouldn't they?

[Seti 1]

The hawks also saw Syria as the only remaining military threat to Israel.

Gee, one would think we went into Iraq to remove a military threat to Israel.

[johniegrad]

This may simply be another attempt to portray the administration as divided and, therefore, weaker than it currently appears. Unless the leftists can do something to slow down the juggernaut, this administration appears too powerful and competent to be overcome by any of the midgets that the Dems have to offer. Take this article with a grain of salt.

[beckett]

Mostly balderdash from some "anonymous" troublemakers. This is the kind of reporting that richly deserves to be ignored. The writer clearly chose phrases designed to polarize and sensationalize.

[RightWhale]

administration officials have told United Press International

This is not hard news. It is discussion of possible motivations. Of course Rumsfield would be ready to take on Syria. Of course Powell would prefer diplomacy. Of course Rice would rather not get the US involved in a situation that has more minuses than pluses. As to this being the campaign season: it is always campaign season.

News or revelation content = zero. Perfect as a filler for Rather or Jennings.

[Ichneumon]

I hope Condi Rice isn't catching the timidity from Powell.

I think it was the right decision.

With our heavy presence in Iraq, we're now in a much better position to get Syria to do what we want through *threats* of force than through actual force.

Yeah, we could leave the country a smoking ruin, but what would that really buy us except another nation-building headache, with all the uncertainty and instability and risks that entails?

Better to just send Powell to visit Assad, as was done a few weeks ago, to personally "give him an offer he can't refuse". I suspect we won't see much trouble from them for a long, long time now (and perhaps we'll get a lot of behind-the-scenes cooperation).

There's little to be gained by creating another Lebanon.

[L,TOWM]

I agree with you. I believe that this is some good selective leaking...

1) Let's Bastard Assad know he has one foot on a banana peel and another dangled over a smoking hole;
2) Perhaps emboldens the DPRK to doing something stupid enough that we are forced to, ahem, 'respond' with force;
3) Maybe gets some Rat Bastard terrorists emboldened enough to poke their heads out from under the slimy rocks they breed under.

Our next VP would not make this kind of blanket statement for real, IMHO.

[FairOpinion]

There were several articles all quoting Powell having said this, apparetnlyhe gave some inteviews, complaining loudly "Assad lied to me! How could he!"

[breakem]

You can trust her all you want. Advisors don't make this type of decision. The president does and that's where the buck stops.

[Publius6961]

Give it a rest.

Yes, often Isrel's interests coincide with our own.
Deal with it.

[ThanhPhero]

I just hope we don't look back on this in 5 years when Syria has punched us with a nuke and say why didn't we go ahead and knock down Assad? Is this W's version of GHWB's Baghdad reluctance? I hope we at least stay in Iraq and intimidate Syria and Iran to the point that they are no longer dangerous.

[Tailgunner Joe]

End the Syrian Occupation of Lebanon!

[okie01]

"I am disappointed that Rice and Rove want to put artificial limits on what Bush does."

No. You are disappointed in what "...[unnamed] administration officials have told United Press International."

Bush "administration officials" who actually know what's going on don't talk to UPI -- or anybody else.

Clinton-appointed low-level paper pushers who know nothing other than what the media wants to hear are the ones to talk to UPI -- and everybody else.

It's a way to get UPI to buy them lunch...

[Filibuster_60]

Didn't we do this in Cambodia?

Yes, with very patchy results I would add.