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Kerry meets Assad in Damascus
AP ^ | January 8, 2005 | By ALBERT AJI

Posted on 01/08/2005 12:26:53 PM PST by Ooh-Ah

US Senator John Kerry said Saturday after talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad he is hopeful that strained US-Syrian relations can be improved. Assad in return assured Kerry he is interested in dialogue with Washington.

The former Democratic presidential candidate, who arrived in Damascus Friday, met for two hours with Assad before meeting separately with Foreign Minister Farouk a-Sharaa.

The talks centered on the situation in Iraq and how to prevent militants from entering Iraq through Syria.

"I think we found a great deal of areas of mutual interest, some common concerns and some possibilities for initiatives that could be taken in the future to strengthening relationship between the US and Syria," Kerry told reporters after meeting with a-Sharaa.

"I can assure you that I leave here with a sense that we can improve our relationship. There are significant possibilities, particularly with the elections in Iraq and the elections in the West Bank," Kerry said. "This is the moment of opportunity for the Middle East, for the US and for the world. I hope that we would seize that opportunity."

Kerry said there were "still concerns" that need to be addressed. "But I came away confident that the president and foreign minister are interested in moving in the right direction, and I am hopeful they will," he said.

Assad stressed "the importance of dialogue between the two sides over all issues under discussion, especially those of common interest," Syria's official news agency reported without elaborating.

Kerry's visit comes amid strained US-Syrian relations, particularly over accusations by American and Iraqi interim government officials that Damascus is doing too little to stop border infiltration. Washington also accuses Syria of backing Palestinian militant groups opposed to Israel.

Syria denies both claims but says it can't fully control its long, porous border with Iraq and regards Palestinian militants as fighters opposed to Israel's illegal occupation of Arab territories.

Kerry said he and Assad also discussed issues of importance to the region and to both countries, including Iraq, security, Lebanon and weapons of mass destruction.

"We discussed the war on terror and a number of issues between our countries with respect to economics and economic reform and the future of our relationship," he said.

Later, as Kerry was about to get into his car outside the Foreign Ministry building, 13-year-old Mustafa al-Nabulsi approached him with a drawing of the senator as a soldier in his Vietnam days.

"You have made me much more important than I was, though. You made me a general," Kerry told the teen.

"I wish you were the president," al-Nabulsi responded in English.

"Thank you very much. So do I. Thank you for this," Kerry said. He asked for the boy's address, and al-Nabulsi gave him his mobile number.

A few months ago, Washington imposed sanctions on Syria under an act accusing Damascus of seeking weapons of mass destruction, a charge Syria denies, and hosting Palestinian groups Washington deems terrorist.

In September, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and dismantle the Syrian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group.

More recently, US President George W. Bush has warned Syria and Iran against "meddling" in the internal affairs of Iraq.

Kerry arrived from Iraq, where he met US troops in the volatile northern city of Mosul, the scene of a suicide bombing last month on a military base that killed 22 people, including 14 US soldiers and three American contractors.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aintnohero; assad; assadjohnny; fauxmedals; foreignleaders; gigolo; girlieboy; ichabodcrane; kerry; kerryiraq; lurch; northkoreanext; swiftvetsfortruth; syria; syriasfriend; terayzastoy; traitor; truefraud
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To: Ooh-Ah
Kerry said there were "still concerns" that need to be addressed. "But I came away confident that the president and foreign minister are interested in moving in the right direction, and I am hopeful they will," he said.

After all, Assad is such a trustworthy soul. The only thing that Assad and his ilk understand is a swift kick up the bracket.

21 posted on 01/08/2005 12:45:02 PM PST by sofaman
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To: Ooh-Ah
A picture of this meeting:
22 posted on 01/08/2005 12:45:42 PM PST by KJC1
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To: Ooh-Ah
Are senators allowed to perform individual foreign policy? I thought their role was simply to advise and consent.

Otherwise, if memory serves me right, that's sedition at best, treason at worst.

What's the excuse for not burning this loser this time (Nixon was a wuss)?

23 posted on 01/08/2005 12:46:36 PM PST by Publius6961 (The most abundant things in the universe are hydrogen, ignorance and stupidity.)
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To: Go Gordon

"Yeah, 13 year old boys in Syria all have cell phones."

The ones using them to detonate their TNT belts, do!


24 posted on 01/08/2005 12:46:54 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Tom Bombadil
.......John Kerry should traipse off with Ramsey Clarke to some remote beach in Tahiti. They can enjoy their retirement together without further embarrassing themselves.

Haven't you heard, Ramsey Clark has joined the Saddam defense team, seriesly?

Maybe sKerry will testify at the trial about all of the Bush "lies" about Saddam, the dear man.

25 posted on 01/08/2005 12:48:01 PM PST by Mister Baredog (PLEASE be sure you have a flag up on your FReeper homepage.!!!)
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To: Ooh-Ah

I'll cut Kerry some slack. He lost. He conceeded. We already knew that the terrorists were afraid of Bush and would rather have had Kerry as US President.

From our point of view, what could be better than Assad telling Kerry he wished the Dems had won? It pretty much proves our point.


26 posted on 01/08/2005 12:49:14 PM PST by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadeen)
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To: KJC1

skerry gets to meet one world leader.Wrong side I think.


27 posted on 01/08/2005 12:49:48 PM PST by jocko12
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To: jocko12

"Im sorry my brother. Im sorry. I tried. Your monetary gifts were very kind. Do not worry, i will subvert at every chance while stil senator. Praise allah!"


28 posted on 01/08/2005 12:51:31 PM PST by samadams2000
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To: KJC1

"Yes, Mr. Kerry. We have explosive vests in many sizes. We will find just the right fit for you and your guest. You said her name is Ms. Fonda, this is correct, yes?"

29 posted on 01/08/2005 12:52:07 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all)
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To: Ooh-Ah

Were his first words in Syria "Did Jen-giss Kahhhn ever come through here?"


30 posted on 01/08/2005 12:52:11 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (...drowning someone ...I certainly wouldn't have had a part of that... --Capt. Teddy)
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To: Ooh-Ah

Another perfectly good photo-op ruined by forgetting to have Tom Harkin tag along.


31 posted on 01/08/2005 12:57:19 PM PST by niteowl77 (Socialist: someone who can't find his ass despite using other peoples' hands in addition to his own.)
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To: tarheelswamprat
This scene was a set-up; I'd bet any amount on it.

I think it smells big-time too. Leave it to Kerry to squeeze in another "I was in Vietnam" moment during a visit to Syria.
P.S. Did you know Kerry was in Vietnam?
32 posted on 01/08/2005 12:59:25 PM PST by KJC1
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To: Ooh-Ah
For a moment I wondered if this (article) were a hoax. The AP/JP link proves otherwise.

Based on the reported dialog, the buffoon (obvious to whom I refer) was diplomatically skewered!

Idiocy!!!

33 posted on 01/08/2005 1:01:20 PM PST by March I up
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To: Mister Baredog
Haven't you heard, Ramsey Clark has joined the Saddam defense team, seriesly?

More reason to stop embarrassing himself by going to Tahiti.

I can think of a whole bunch of people I like to retire to Tahiti. Pay the bill just as long as they stay away from foreign policy.

34 posted on 01/08/2005 1:01:43 PM PST by Tom Bombadil
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To: KJC1

What's wrong with this picture?

Why, it's a beautiful, ornate bar and table setup that looks like maybe a bartender, bottles and glasses have been removed before the photographer was let in.


35 posted on 01/08/2005 1:02:27 PM PST by debg
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To: Tom Bombadil
I can think of a whole bunch of people I like to retire to Tahiti.

I hear the Nicobar Islands are nice, let's send them there.

36 posted on 01/08/2005 1:03:59 PM PST by Mister Baredog (PLEASE be sure you have a flag up on your FReeper homepage.!!!)
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To: Poser
"My name is Osama Bin Laden, and I approved this message."


37 posted on 01/08/2005 1:06:10 PM PST by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: KJC1

kerrys treachery and treason against America with the Vn commies is precisely why he is attractive to the current enemies.


38 posted on 01/08/2005 1:07:45 PM PST by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Ooh-Ah
It's just another photo-op for the Traitor on the Treason '05 tour.
39 posted on 01/08/2005 1:12:05 PM PST by MKM1960
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To: Texas Eagle

Or maybe he said, " I have never felt so much at home ", as Strobe Talbot reportedly said in a trip to the Soviet Union.


40 posted on 01/08/2005 1:12:56 PM PST by Grateful One
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