Syria sponsors terrorism (HIT THEM NEXT, THE TELEGRAPH SAYS)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | October 20, 2001 | Editorial Staff

[MadIvan]

ISRAEL has rightly served Yasser Arafat with an ultimatum following the assassination of Rehavam Ze'evi, the tourism minister: either he arrests and hands over the perpetrators or he will be treated as a terrorist leader. Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, has also broken off contacts with the Palestinian Authority and sent troops into four areas under its control, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jenin and Beit Jala. However, he shows no sign of extending his riposte to Syria, which houses the headquarters of the group claiming to have committed the murder, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Since the bombing of America on September 11, the Syrian government has played its usual canny game. On the one hand, it has positioned itself on the right side of the anti-terrorism coalition by condemning the attacks. On the other, while being careful to avoid direct involvement in terrorism, it remains the headquarters of a wide range of violent Islamist groups vowed to the destruction of Israel. As the "protector" of Lebanon, it also allows the Iranian-backed Hizbollah a free run in the southern part of that country.

Over the past five weeks the image of responsible player on the international scene has prevailed over that of rogue state. On October 8, Syria was elected a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2002-2003. This week, Colin Powell, the American secretary of state, has urged it to resume the peace talks with Israel broken off at the beginning of last year. As in 1990, when they joined the American-led coalition after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, the Syrians have played their cards well. Nothing has changed in their stubborn hostility to Israel since Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father, Hafiz, last year; during the Pope's visit to Damascus in May, the son notoriously accused the Jews of killing first Christ, then the Palestinians. Yet Syria, one of the main sponsors of violent Islamic radicals in the Middle East, has escaped censure in the anti-terrorist campaign launched by George Bush.

That is understandable at a time when the allies are preoccupied with Afghanistan. Yet in any extension of the global war on terrorism Damascus does not deserve to be so lucky. It provides headquarters for about 10 militant Islamist groups, among them Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Al Saiqa and the PFLP. In Lebanon, over which Syria has held sway since the Ta'if Agreement of 1989, Hizbollah, the Shi'ite militia, has strengthened its position in the south following the withdrawal of Israeli forces in May 2000, thus making northern Galilee more vulnerable to attack. Three men suspected of belonging to the group are on the Bush Administration's most wanted terrorist list.

For the moment, the allies are concentrating on defeating Osama bin Laden while going through the motions of reviving Middle East peace talks in order to keep the Arabs within the anti-terrorism coalition. When that phase is over, Syria should be confronted with a choice on the lines of that presented by Israel to Mr Arafat: either it closes the Islamist offices in Damascus and allows the Lebanese army into southern Lebanon, or it will be deemed a rogue state and liable to punitive military action.

[MadIvan]

So long as we're at it, we may as well clean house completely. Syria and Iraq are obvious nations to clean up.

Best Regards, Ivan

But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: "Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be." - Winston Churchill, 1940

This then, my lords and gentlemen, is the message which we send forth today to all states and nations, bound or free, to all the men in all the lands who care for freedom's cause. To our Allies and well-wishers in Europe, to our American friends and helpers drawing ever closer in their might across the ocean, this is the message-lift up your hearts, all will come right. Out of depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind. - Winston Churchill, 1941

"What kind of a people do they think we are? Is it possible that they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?" - Winston Churchill, 1941


LET US GO FORWARD TOGETHER - CLICK ABOVE!

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[kattracks]

BTTT

[Mortimer Snavely]

It's going to be a long, hard, and depressing struggle. But if we stick it out, we'll win.

[samtheman]

It's going to be a long, hard, and depressing struggle. But if we stick it out, we'll win.

I believe that.

[NetValue]

I cannot wait to see who we point the barrel at next. Major candidates: Damaskus Syria, Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Tehran Iran, Baghdad Iraq, Tripoli Libya, Sudan.

Shall we start a pool?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Colin Powell is too busy kissing Arab a**es in our ridiculous "coalition" which includes the murderous Syrian regime. Colin Powell never met a terrorist he couldn't try to appease.

[Dudoight]

and 14 Syrians arrived this week to go to Flight School in Ft. Worth, TX.

[LaGrone]

How about Somalia; we have a little score to settle with them anyway.

[pgkdan]

So long as we're at it, we may as well clean house completely. Syria and Iraq are obvious nations to clean up.

You've got to add Iran to the mix...in fact make them first. I don't care what they may be saying behind the scenes. they are the number 1 supported, recruiter and supplier of terrorists in the world and they should be held accountable for all the havock they have wreaked upon the world in the last 23 years.

[pgkdan]

Colin Powell is too busy kissing Arab a**es in our ridiculous "coalition" which includes the murderous Syrian regime. Colin Powell never met a terrorist he couldn't try to appease.

What's really scary is to think that if Powell had decided to run for the GOP nomination he could have won and either he or Gore would be President.

[HoustonKevin]

The Syrians are in Fort Worth today getting schooled in flight training and nobody seems to give a crap!!!

I heard on Fox news some INS spokes'person' actually said, "This is just business as usual!"

[MadIvan]

I think we can destabilise Iran rather than attack it. There is a substantial group of people (those under say 25) who want their MTV and Reeboks, and think their parents were idiots for giving up their conduits to the west.

Iran is different. We need to:

• Kill the mullahs - preferably by subtle means such as giving them heart attacks
  
• Develop a resistance - there are probably groups and elements within Iran, and definitely groups and elements outside Iran that hate the mullahs as much as we do, we need to encourage them
  
• Develop political contacts - political resistance among the more open minded of Iran's politicians would only be encouraged by help from outside.
  

Iran requires a more subtle strategy, but is eminently achievable. We do need to kill the mullahs however.

Regards, Ivan

[Churchillspirit]

It is the next stage that really concerns me.

Syria, Iraq, Iran...glad I don't have to make these decisions.

Pray for guidance to our leaders for the tough choices they will have to make.

FRegards,

[Askel5]

I cannot wait to see who we point the barrel at next.

Why discriminate? Let's just point the barrel at ALL CLIENT STATES of Soviet and Chicom sponsored terrorism.

[Askel5]

When do we bomb Ireland?

[StoneColdGOP]

It's too bad I'm not President (yet). I'd be smokin' a whole lot of baddies...