Syria gives passports to suicide bombers (ACT OF WAR)

The Times ^ | April 2, 2003 | Michael Binyon

[MadIvan]

THE SAS has arrested four busloads of suspected suicide bombers and would-be fighters in Iraq’s western desert.

The men, who are being held as prisoners of war, came from various Arab countries but all carried Syrian passports. They are thought to be among thousands of Arab zealots making their way to the battle front.

Syria has issued about 2,000 passports to people volunteering to fight for President Saddam Hussein in recent weeks, raising serious concerns in Britain and America, which suspects Damascus of smuggling war supplies to Iraq. The coalition is to protest to the Syrians.

Syrian officials have made no secret of their sympathy for the resistance of “the Iraqi people” to coalition attacks, although they have not voiced public support for Saddam.

Damascus has rejected accusations by Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, that Syria has provided Iraq with night-vision goggles.

The big worry is that many of the volunteers receiving passports may be suicide bombers, including Palestinians hoping to avenge themselves for US support of Israel. A captured Iraqi general said last week that up to 4,000 suicide bombers were ready.

British sources believe that up to 600 volunteers have crossed from Syria into Iraq or are about to do so. Sending fighters to join a combatant army is a clear breach of neutrality. “The Syrians are playing with fire,” one source said yesterday.

In Jerusalem, Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli Defence Minister, said that Israel viewed as “very grave” Syria’s role in helping the volunteers. He also issued a veiled warning to President Assad over comments in a Lebanese newspaper that Syria could be the next target in America’s War on Terror “as long as Israel exists”.

Mr Mofaz said that Mr Assad had effectively ruled out a peace agreement with Israel.

[MadIvan]

Bring it, gobshite. We'll take you down too.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Mister Magoo]

Damascus, welcome to the party. My name is MOAB.

[Retrofire]

Syria's had it coming for a long time. Maybe the liberals were accidentally right. Iraq WILL be the first of a series of actions by the United States to change to geopolitics of the Middle East.

One can only hope.

[x1stcav]

I wish they hadn't announced this. If we'd been smart we would have played up the romance of martydom, etc, got as many to make the trip as possible, and whisked them off to Gitmo.

[MHGinTN]

I hope someone is watching for them ... (+) ... to apply rule 308.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Iran is going to implode on itself soon. No need for us to waste time, money, or blood on the mullahs. Syria, on the other hand, is asking for a 55 gallon drum of industrial whoopass.

[alnitak]

Arrested!? Line them all up. Then shoot all of them - except for one. Put that one back on the bus and send him back to Syria.

[Former Proud Canadian]

To me, this would immediately make EVERY Syrian passport (and passport holder) a suspect.

[Dog Gone]

Well, it is an act of war. And why Syria is volunteering to join the Axis of Evil is beyond me. A rational nation would be trying to get out of it right now.

[MadIvan]

Syria is sending the dirtiest filth in the Middle East to blow up our lads. I say, destroy them immediately.

Regards, Ivan

[Dog]

Bring it, gobshite. We'll take you down too.

Ivan what does gobshite mean..

[RippleFire]

bump

[CaptBlack]

Damascus, welcome to the party. My name is MOAB.

I'm thinking there has to be a good joke in there somewhere with reference to the biblical "Moabites".

[MadIvan]

Definition of gobshite, complete with pronunciation

Regards, Ivan

[No Truce With Kings]

"THE SAS has arrested four busloads of suspected suicide bombers and would-be fighters in Iraq’s western desert."

Hahahahaha! Imagine -- get on a bus you think is heading to Baghdad, and instead you catch the bus to Gitmo.

[mabelkitty]

I thought we blew these folks up last night, bus and all?
Or was that the Jordanian day trippers?

[mabelkitty]

I think Syria, who is housing Saddam's whore and her evil spawn, is run by Ba'ath party.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How nice, they came all wrapped up by the busload.