[JerseyHighlander]

Abdullah said that trucks containing 17.5 tons of explosives had come from Syria, though he took pains not to implicate Syrian President Bashir Assad in the al Qaeda plot, saying, "I'm completely confident that Bashir did not know about it."

I'll buy that, reports speculate Bashir still doesn't have any real power over his father's heads of security and military operations. So it wouldn't surprise anyone if some small group of government hacks followed the Pakistani ISI gameplan and diverted resources to Al Queada. It can be discounted, but not ruled out, right?

[RandallFlagg]

AHEM!

[AFPhys]

I distinctly remember that there was some story about Bashir making noises supporting the US in the War against terrorism early on, but he was squashed in that desire by some of his ruling council members - I think defense minister leading him on or someone like that... Anybody else recall this?

I don't think he has much control over what actually happens in Syria. (He needs to be deposed anyway...)