Terror pushes Syria to breaking point
Nicolas Rothwell, Middle East correspondent
01mar05

WITH anti-Syrian protesters massed in the heart of Beirut last night and the
US redoubling its insistence that Syrian troops pull out of Lebanon, the
regime in Damascus - which handed over Saddam Hussein's half-brother to
authorities in Iraq at the weekend - has begun making extraordinary
concessions under pressure.

As Israeli Government officials provided comprehensive briefings to foreign
diplomats yesterday, linking Syria to Friday's suicide bomb attack at a
crowded Tel Aviv nightclub that disrupted almost three months of peace
between Israelis and Palestinians, the picture of Syrian discomfort was
complete.
A military regime long used to coercing and threatening its enemies is now
in the frame, internationally condemned as a terror state, and under orders
to withdraw its soldiers from a key deployment in a neighbouring country.

Syria's critics have been most vocal in their response to the assassination
two weeks ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, an act tied to
Syrian intelligence but publicly lamented by Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad.

For the past year, the US and France, as co-sponsors of a UN Security
Council resolution, have been leading the international drive to force
Syria's 14,000 troops from Lebanon. The Syrian regime has repeatedly, if
vaguely, promised that it will comply.

US President George W.Bush singled out Syria in his State of the Union
address early this year and insisted that free elections in Lebanon,
scheduled for May, should be allowed to unfold without Syrian troops
present.

Syria's covert involvement in acts of spectacular violence against two of
its neighbours, Lebanon and Israel, has become the new centre of contention.

Against this backdrop, the Syrian bid to relieve US pressure by trading in
one of the former Iraqi dictator's key relations, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan
al-Tikriti, marks both the mounting anxiety in Damascus and the regime's
lack of options.

US hostility to Syria has been fuelled by the regime's well-cloaked backing
for the Iraqi insurgency; signs that this dam of anger was about to break
have come fast in recent days, as US warnings have paced intelligence
revelations.

Last week, several Syrian intelligence officers were paraded on Iraqi
television, confirming they had been involved in financing the rebellion
against the US-led occupation of the country.

Yet the decision to release Saddam's half-brother seems a staggeringly
maladroit bargaining move, since it instantly confirms that senior Iraqi
Baath regime officials have been under Syrian control for the past two
years, and that the insurgency is in part a Syrian-sponsored venture.

Designed to show a willingness to deal, the gesture will be regarded by US
officials as a token both of weakness and of complicity.

With the war on terror moving to a new front, Syria is now the front-line
state. Elections have been held or are due in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon --
the three areas where Syria is accused of cryptic political violence.

Abruptly, the future and even the survival of the Assad regime in Damascus,
long considered the most stable of the Arab dictatorships, looks in grave
doubt. Mr Assad's denials of involvement in acts ordered by his intelligence
chiefs suggest either duplicity or irrelevance.

Either way, after handing over one Iraqi insurgency chief, and so meeting
one key US demand, all the rest will have to follow to end the pressure
campaign.

As the protesters chant in Beirut and the Israelis prepare their dossiers
showing Syrian involvement in Palestinian terror, the mood has shifted.

The Syrians have placed a gun at their own head and will now be incessantly
urged to dismantle their terror apparatus, reform their state and pull their
armies off Lebanese soil.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It won't be long, and Assad will be announcing that he recently discovered
that WMD's had been smuggled in from Iraq before the war without his
knowledge.

"NOYB" wrote in message
ink.net...
Terror pushes Syria to breaking point
Nicolas Rothwell, Middle East correspondent
01mar05

WITH anti-Syrian protesters massed in the heart of Beirut last night and
the US redoubling its insistence that Syrian troops pull out of Lebanon,
the regime in Damascus - which handed over Saddam Hussein's half-brother
to authorities in Iraq at the weekend - has begun making extraordinary
concessions under pressure.

As Israeli Government officials provided comprehensive briefings to
foreign diplomats yesterday, linking Syria to Friday's suicide bomb attack
at a crowded Tel Aviv nightclub that disrupted almost three months of
peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the picture of Syrian discomfort
was complete.
A military regime long used to coercing and threatening its enemies is now
in the frame, internationally condemned as a terror state, and under
orders to withdraw its soldiers from a key deployment in a neighbouring
country.

Syria's critics have been most vocal in their response to the
assassination two weeks ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik
Hariri, an act tied to Syrian intelligence but publicly lamented by Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad.

For the past year, the US and France, as co-sponsors of a UN Security
Council resolution, have been leading the international drive to force
Syria's 14,000 troops from Lebanon. The Syrian regime has repeatedly, if
vaguely, promised that it will comply.

US President George W.Bush singled out Syria in his State of the Union
address early this year and insisted that free elections in Lebanon,
scheduled for May, should be allowed to unfold without Syrian troops
present.

Syria's covert involvement in acts of spectacular violence against two of
its neighbours, Lebanon and Israel, has become the new centre of
contention.

Against this backdrop, the Syrian bid to relieve US pressure by trading in
one of the former Iraqi dictator's key relations, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan
al-Tikriti, marks both the mounting anxiety in Damascus and the regime's
lack of options.

US hostility to Syria has been fuelled by the regime's well-cloaked
backing for the Iraqi insurgency; signs that this dam of anger was about
to break have come fast in recent days, as US warnings have paced
intelligence revelations.

Last week, several Syrian intelligence officers were paraded on Iraqi
television, confirming they had been involved in financing the rebellion
against the US-led occupation of the country.

Yet the decision to release Saddam's half-brother seems a staggeringly
maladroit bargaining move, since it instantly confirms that senior Iraqi
Baath regime officials have been under Syrian control for the past two
years, and that the insurgency is in part a Syrian-sponsored venture.

Designed to show a willingness to deal, the gesture will be regarded by US
officials as a token both of weakness and of complicity.

With the war on terror moving to a new front, Syria is now the front-line
state. Elections have been held or are due in Iraq, Palestine and
Lebanon -- the three areas where Syria is accused of cryptic political
violence.

Abruptly, the future and even the survival of the Assad regime in
Damascus, long considered the most stable of the Arab dictatorships, looks
in grave doubt. Mr Assad's denials of involvement in acts ordered by his
intelligence chiefs suggest either duplicity or irrelevance.

Either way, after handing over one Iraqi insurgency chief, and so meeting
one key US demand, all the rest will have to follow to end the pressure
campaign.

As the protesters chant in Beirut and the Israelis prepare their dossiers
showing Syrian involvement in Palestinian terror, the mood has shifted.

The Syrians have placed a gun at their own head and will now be
incessantly urged to dismantle their terror apparatus, reform their state
and pull their armies off Lebanese soil.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It won't be long, and Assad will be announcing that he recently discovered
that WMD's had been smuggled in from Iraq before the war without his
knowledge.



"We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive
them from place to place until there is no refuge or no rest.
And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism.
Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with
us, or you are with the terrorists."



(That was an amazingly prescient statement)

"NOYB" wrote in message
ink.net...
Terror pushes Syria to breaking point
Nicolas Rothwell, Middle East correspondent
01mar05

WITH anti-Syrian protesters massed in the heart of Beirut last night and
the US redoubling its insistence that Syrian troops pull out of Lebanon,
the regime in Damascus - which handed over Saddam Hussein's half-brother
to authorities in Iraq at the weekend - has begun making extraordinary
concessions under pressure.

As Israeli Government officials provided comprehensive briefings to
foreign diplomats yesterday, linking Syria to Friday's suicide bomb attack
at a crowded Tel Aviv nightclub that disrupted almost three months of
peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the picture of Syrian discomfort
was complete.
A military regime long used to coercing and threatening its enemies is now
in the frame, internationally condemned as a terror state, and under
orders to withdraw its soldiers from a key deployment in a neighbouring
country.

Syria's critics have been most vocal in their response to the
assassination two weeks ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik
Hariri, an act tied to Syrian intelligence but publicly lamented by Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad.

For the past year, the US and France, as co-sponsors of a UN Security
Council resolution, have been leading the international drive to force
Syria's 14,000 troops from Lebanon. The Syrian regime has repeatedly, if
vaguely, promised that it will comply.

US President George W.Bush singled out Syria in his State of the Union
address early this year and insisted that free elections in Lebanon,
scheduled for May, should be allowed to unfold without Syrian troops
present.

Syria's covert involvement in acts of spectacular violence against two of
its neighbours, Lebanon and Israel, has become the new centre of
contention.

Against this backdrop, the Syrian bid to relieve US pressure by trading in
one of the former Iraqi dictator's key relations, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan
al-Tikriti, marks both the mounting anxiety in Damascus and the regime's
lack of options.

US hostility to Syria has been fuelled by the regime's well-cloaked
backing for the Iraqi insurgency; signs that this dam of anger was about
to break have come fast in recent days, as US warnings have paced
intelligence revelations.

Last week, several Syrian intelligence officers were paraded on Iraqi
television, confirming they had been involved in financing the rebellion
against the US-led occupation of the country.

Yet the decision to release Saddam's half-brother seems a staggeringly
maladroit bargaining move, since it instantly confirms that senior Iraqi
Baath regime officials have been under Syrian control for the past two
years, and that the insurgency is in part a Syrian-sponsored venture.

Designed to show a willingness to deal, the gesture will be regarded by US
officials as a token both of weakness and of complicity.

With the war on terror moving to a new front, Syria is now the front-line
state. Elections have been held or are due in Iraq, Palestine and
Lebanon -- the three areas where Syria is accused of cryptic political
violence.

Abruptly, the future and even the survival of the Assad regime in
Damascus, long considered the most stable of the Arab dictatorships, looks
in grave doubt. Mr Assad's denials of involvement in acts ordered by his
intelligence chiefs suggest either duplicity or irrelevance.

Either way, after handing over one Iraqi insurgency chief, and so meeting
one key US demand, all the rest will have to follow to end the pressure
campaign.

As the protesters chant in Beirut and the Israelis prepare their dossiers
showing Syrian involvement in Palestinian terror, the mood has shifted.

The Syrians have placed a gun at their own head and will now be
incessantly urged to dismantle their terror apparatus, reform their state
and pull their armies off Lebanese soil.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It won't be long, and Assad will be announcing that he recently discovered
that WMD's had been smuggled in from Iraq before the war without his
knowledge.



Great story. To the dismay of the liberal naysayers, the plan *is* working.

NOYB wrote:
Either you are with
us, or you are with the terrorists."



(That was an amazingly prescient statement)

Yes, I suppose..... if you are simple minded, you'd think that if
anyone didn't goose-step to the party, then they are terrorists.

wrote in message
oups.com...

NOYB wrote:
Either you are with
us, or you are with the terrorists."



(That was an amazingly prescient statement)

Yes, I suppose..... if you are simple minded, you'd think that if
anyone didn't goose-step to the party, then they are terrorists.

basskisser has a new (old) identity:

"JimH" wrote in message
...



Great story. To the dismay of the liberal naysayers, the plan *is*
working.


Yes, but probably not the plan you believe it to be.

"NOYB" wrote in message
nk.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...

NOYB wrote:
Either you are with
us, or you are with the terrorists."



(That was an amazingly prescient statement)

Yes, I suppose..... if you are simple minded, you'd think that if
anyone didn't goose-step to the party, then they are terrorists.

basskisser has a new (old) identity:




I think his workplace ISP yelled at him for the personal threats he was
making to folks here....thus the new Yahoo handle.

Yahooo.....that seems to fit him anyway.

Good article. Thanks.



On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 18:10:00 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

Terror pushes Syria to breaking point
Nicolas Rothwell, Middle East correspondent
01mar05

WITH anti-Syrian protesters massed in the heart of Beirut last night and the
US redoubling its insistence that Syrian troops pull out of Lebanon, the
regime in Damascus - which handed over Saddam Hussein's half-brother to
authorities in Iraq at the weekend - has begun making extraordinary
concessions under pressure.

As Israeli Government officials provided comprehensive briefings to foreign
diplomats yesterday, linking Syria to Friday's suicide bomb attack at a
crowded Tel Aviv nightclub that disrupted almost three months of peace
between Israelis and Palestinians, the picture of Syrian discomfort was
complete.
A military regime long used to coercing and threatening its enemies is now
in the frame, internationally condemned as a terror state, and under orders
to withdraw its soldiers from a key deployment in a neighbouring country.

Syria's critics have been most vocal in their response to the assassination
two weeks ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, an act tied to
Syrian intelligence but publicly lamented by Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad.

For the past year, the US and France, as co-sponsors of a UN Security
Council resolution, have been leading the international drive to force
Syria's 14,000 troops from Lebanon. The Syrian regime has repeatedly, if
vaguely, promised that it will comply.

US President George W.Bush singled out Syria in his State of the Union
address early this year and insisted that free elections in Lebanon,
scheduled for May, should be allowed to unfold without Syrian troops
present.

Syria's covert involvement in acts of spectacular violence against two of
its neighbours, Lebanon and Israel, has become the new centre of contention.

Against this backdrop, the Syrian bid to relieve US pressure by trading in
one of the former Iraqi dictator's key relations, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan
al-Tikriti, marks both the mounting anxiety in Damascus and the regime's
lack of options.

US hostility to Syria has been fuelled by the regime's well-cloaked backing
for the Iraqi insurgency; signs that this dam of anger was about to break
have come fast in recent days, as US warnings have paced intelligence
revelations.

Last week, several Syrian intelligence officers were paraded on Iraqi
television, confirming they had been involved in financing the rebellion
against the US-led occupation of the country.

Yet the decision to release Saddam's half-brother seems a staggeringly
maladroit bargaining move, since it instantly confirms that senior Iraqi
Baath regime officials have been under Syrian control for the past two
years, and that the insurgency is in part a Syrian-sponsored venture.

Designed to show a willingness to deal, the gesture will be regarded by US
officials as a token both of weakness and of complicity.

With the war on terror moving to a new front, Syria is now the front-line
state. Elections have been held or are due in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon --
the three areas where Syria is accused of cryptic political violence.

Abruptly, the future and even the survival of the Assad regime in Damascus,
long considered the most stable of the Arab dictatorships, looks in grave
doubt. Mr Assad's denials of involvement in acts ordered by his intelligence
chiefs suggest either duplicity or irrelevance.

Either way, after handing over one Iraqi insurgency chief, and so meeting
one key US demand, all the rest will have to follow to end the pressure
campaign.

As the protesters chant in Beirut and the Israelis prepare their dossiers
showing Syrian involvement in Palestinian terror, the mood has shifted.

The Syrians have placed a gun at their own head and will now be incessantly
urged to dismantle their terror apparatus, reform their state and pull their
armies off Lebanese soil.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It won't be long, and Assad will be announcing that he recently discovered
that WMD's had been smuggled in from Iraq before the war without his
knowledge.


I think you may be right here also. Then folks will say we planted them in
Syria.

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes

"John H" wrote in message
...

Good article. Thanks.



On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 18:10:00 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

Terror pushes Syria to breaking point
Nicolas Rothwell, Middle East correspondent
01mar05

WITH anti-Syrian protesters massed in the heart of Beirut last night and
the
US redoubling its insistence that Syrian troops pull out of Lebanon, the
regime in Damascus - which handed over Saddam Hussein's half-brother to
authorities in Iraq at the weekend - has begun making extraordinary
concessions under pressure.

As Israeli Government officials provided comprehensive briefings to
foreign
diplomats yesterday, linking Syria to Friday's suicide bomb attack at a
crowded Tel Aviv nightclub that disrupted almost three months of peace
between Israelis and Palestinians, the picture of Syrian discomfort was
complete.
A military regime long used to coercing and threatening its enemies is now
in the frame, internationally condemned as a terror state, and under
orders
to withdraw its soldiers from a key deployment in a neighbouring country.

Syria's critics have been most vocal in their response to the
assassination
two weeks ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, an act tied
to
Syrian intelligence but publicly lamented by Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad.

For the past year, the US and France, as co-sponsors of a UN Security
Council resolution, have been leading the international drive to force
Syria's 14,000 troops from Lebanon. The Syrian regime has repeatedly, if
vaguely, promised that it will comply.

US President George W.Bush singled out Syria in his State of the Union
address early this year and insisted that free elections in Lebanon,
scheduled for May, should be allowed to unfold without Syrian troops
present.

Syria's covert involvement in acts of spectacular violence against two of
its neighbours, Lebanon and Israel, has become the new centre of
contention.

Against this backdrop, the Syrian bid to relieve US pressure by trading in
one of the former Iraqi dictator's key relations, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan
al-Tikriti, marks both the mounting anxiety in Damascus and the regime's
lack of options.

US hostility to Syria has been fuelled by the regime's well-cloaked
backing
for the Iraqi insurgency; signs that this dam of anger was about to break
have come fast in recent days, as US warnings have paced intelligence
revelations.

Last week, several Syrian intelligence officers were paraded on Iraqi
television, confirming they had been involved in financing the rebellion
against the US-led occupation of the country.

Yet the decision to release Saddam's half-brother seems a staggeringly
maladroit bargaining move, since it instantly confirms that senior Iraqi
Baath regime officials have been under Syrian control for the past two
years, and that the insurgency is in part a Syrian-sponsored venture.

Designed to show a willingness to deal, the gesture will be regarded by US
officials as a token both of weakness and of complicity.

With the war on terror moving to a new front, Syria is now the front-line
state. Elections have been held or are due in Iraq, Palestine and
Lebanon --
the three areas where Syria is accused of cryptic political violence.

Abruptly, the future and even the survival of the Assad regime in
Damascus,
long considered the most stable of the Arab dictatorships, looks in grave
doubt. Mr Assad's denials of involvement in acts ordered by his
intelligence
chiefs suggest either duplicity or irrelevance.

Either way, after handing over one Iraqi insurgency chief, and so meeting
one key US demand, all the rest will have to follow to end the pressure
campaign.

As the protesters chant in Beirut and the Israelis prepare their dossiers
showing Syrian involvement in Palestinian terror, the mood has shifted.

The Syrians have placed a gun at their own head and will now be
incessantly
urged to dismantle their terror apparatus, reform their state and pull
their
armies off Lebanese soil.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It won't be long, and Assad will be announcing that he recently discovered
that WMD's had been smuggled in from Iraq before the war without his
knowledge.


I think you may be right here also. Then folks will say we planted them in
Syria.

But it won't be coming from people whose opinions actually matter.

NOYB wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

NOYB wrote:
Either you are with
us, or you are with the terrorists."



(That was an amazingly prescient statement)

Yes, I suppose..... if you are simple minded, you'd think that if
anyone didn't goose-step to the party, then they are terrorists.

basskisser has a new (old) identity:

Man, are you stupid or what? I've used that for more than a year! It's
funny to watch you act like you've come to some revelation!!!