War (of Words) with Syria
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Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003
[Old news, but worth inclusion.]
Interview with Syria's President
New York Times via Lebanon Wire -- December 2, 2003
Following are the complete remarks by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria from an interview with The New York Times on Sunday. The president's office transcribed and translated the interview, during which the president spoke in Arabic and English. The Times trimmed some text from the questions.
Hawks tell Bush how to win war on terror
telegraph.co.uk -- December 31, 2003
By David Rennie in Washington
President George W Bush was sent a public manifesto yesterday by Washington's hawks, demanding regime change in Syria and Iran and a Cuba-style military blockade of North Korea backed by planning for a pre-emptive strike on its nuclear sites.
The manifesto, presented as a "manual for victory" in the war on terror, also calls for Saudi Arabia and France to be treated not as allies but as rivals and possibly enemies.
The manifesto is contained in a new book by Richard Perle, a Pentagon adviser and "intellectual guru" of the hardline neo-conservative movement, and David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter. They give warning of a faltering of the "will to win" in Washington.
Syria Asks UN to Help Rid Mideast of Nuclear Arms
Reuters -- December 29, 2003
By Irwin Arieff
UNITED NATIONS - Syria pushed for a ban on nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in the Middle East on Monday, using its final days on the U.N. Security Council to shine a spotlight on Israel's suspected nuclear arms.
PM, Shalom differ on Syrian overtures
Jerusalem Post -- December 31, 2003
By HERB KEINON
The Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry disagree over how to handle recent conciliatory Syrian overtures, diplomatic officials said Tuesday.
They said the Foreign Ministry wants to seriously look into whether the overtures can be the basis for restarting negotiations, but the Prime Minister's Office – while paying lip service to the idea that Israel is interested in pursuing peace with all its neighbors – doesn't want to throw a "life raft" to the Syrians, currently in a weak position internationally.
Report: Likud MK invited to Syria
Associated Press via Jerusalem Post -- December 30, 2003
A lawmaker from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party has been invited to Syria to discuss a recent proposal by Syrian President Bashar Assad to renew peace talks between the bitter foes, Israel Radio reported Tuesday.
[Original LA Times story requires subscription.]
Syria sold weapons to Saddam
The Scotsman -- December 31, 2003
JASON BEATTIE
SYRIA repeatedly breached United Nations embargoes to supply Iraq with arms and military hardware in the run-up to the coalition’s invasion in March, it was reported yesterday.
Iran and Syria are next to feel the heat
Telegraph -- December 22, 2003
By Benedict Brogan and Anton La Guardia
Tony Blair will seek to use the diplomatic breakthrough with Libya to secure similar concessions on weapons of mass destruction from Iran and Syria. Ministers believe that his New Year offensive will restore his fortunes.
Secret "back channel" talks, which have been going on for months with both countries, will be stepped up as London and Washington try to capitalise on the surprise U-turn by Col Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator.
Now, Syria is in Washington's sights for alleged weapons programme
AFP via SpaceWar -- December 21, 2003
With Libya's renunciation of weapons of mass destruction and Iran's acceptance of tough new inspections of its nuclear programme, Syria finds itself more than ever in Washington's sights for its own alleged weapons programme
[The WaPo article referred to below.]
Commanders Doubt Syria Is Entry Point
Officers See No Sign Of Foreign Fighters
Washington Post -- October 28, 2003
"If somebody is saying the Ho Chi Minh Trail runs through my area of operations, I'm going to tell them they're wrong," said Lt. Col. Joseph Buche, commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne's 3rd Battalion.
[Did anyone remember to brief the Dubster?]
US commanders: Claims about illegal infiltration from Syria to Iraq - ''unfounded''
Al Bawaba -- October 29, 2003
Commanders of U.S. military forces responsible for monitoring the border between Iraq and Syria told The Washington Post there is no evidence from human intelligence sources or radar surveillance aircraft indicating that significant numbers of foreign fighters are infiltrating into Iraq illegally.
U.S. President, George Bush, on Tuesday blamed foreign fighters for four suicide car bombings in Baghdad on Monday that killed at least 40 people.
Under a project that the U.S. military calls Operation Chamberlain, sophisticated Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) planes are gathering information about vehicle movement and relaying it to ground forces.
Commanders from the 101st Airborne have told the newspaper that neither the aircraft nor human intelligence sources show significant infiltration from Syria. "Concerns about illegal infiltration along the Syrian border appear unfounded," the officers told The Post.