U.S., Syria border clashes reported

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The Bush administration is reportedly considering incursions into Syria as it tries to stem the flow of arms and fighters for the Iraqi insurgency.

The New York Times says U.S. and Syrian forces have already been involved in skirmishes on the border, including one this summer that left several Syrians dead.

""Assad is merely a figurehead for Mustafa Tlass who is the real power in the country.""

For those who don't know, here's a link to Mustafa Tlass bio at the Reform Party of Syria site--he's a Sunni and Ba'athist, like Saddam: http://www.reformsyria.org/Baath/Villains/mustapha_tlas.htm

They say, in part, "Being the "old man" of the regime and the President's faithful companion, his influence has quadrupled in the post-Assad era. He has not parted from the young leader's side, either in private meetings or before the cameras. He remains, however, without an autonomous power base of his own. Being a Sunni at the top of a predominantly Alawite establishment, he cannot exercise any influence independently of his relationship with Bashar."

The Reform Party is Washington based and looks pretty intereseting, at least according to their "About Us" blurb:

"Reform Party of Syria (RPS) is a US-based opposition party that has emerged as a result of September 11. The party is governed by secular, peace committed American-Syrians, Euro-Syrians, and native Syrians who are determined to see that a "New Syria" is reborn that embraces real democratic and economic reforms."

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