Free Republic

The Syrian president, Bashir Assad, may soon have a bigger problem with Hezbollah than Israel has. This is because, after a generation of hosting the most psychopathic arm of Iran's psychopathic theocracy, Mr. Assad no longer wants to know them. His minority Alawite, Baathist dictatorship, which Hezbollah has helped to sustain over the years, suddenly finds itself in a position where it must make new friends. Specifically, it is in urgent need of better relations with Turkey, the United States, and Israel; and Hezbollah is not popular with any of them. It isn't in the forefront of the news, but...

POLITICS-U.S.: New Cheney Adviser Sets Syria In His Sights Analysis - By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (IPS) - A neo-conservative strategist who has long called for the United States and Israel to work together to ''roll back'' the Ba'ath-led government in Syria has been quietly appointed as a Middle East adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney. David Wurmser, who had been working for Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton, joined Cheney's staff under its powerful national security director, I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby, in mid-September, according to Cheney's office. The move is significant, not only...

Syrian Axis of Terror September 19, 2003 U.S. State Department John Bolton The United States views with "serious concern" Syria's expanding weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities and its continued state sponsorship of terrorism, the State Department's top arms control official says. Testifying September 16 before a House International Relations subcommittee, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton said Syria also has taken "a series of hostile actions" toward Coalition forces in Iraq. He said Syria allowed military equipment to flow into Iraq on the eve of and during the war, and has "permitted volunteers...

The Iran-Syria axis When it comes to terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 21 months make it abundantly clear that President Bush is not one to engage in empty rhetoric. So, when the president on Monday read the riot act to Iran and Syria, criticizing those governments for supporting terrorists bent on wrecking the Mideast peace process, one would think that his words deserved prominent Page one coverage. "Today, Syria and Iran continue to harbor and assist terrorists. This behavior is completely unacceptable, and states that support terror will be held accountable," the president warned, adding...