Syria may want reward for helping Iraq

AP on Yahoo ^ | 11/26/06 | Salah Nasrawi - ap

[NormsRevenge]

DAMASCUS, Syria - As the U.S. debates whether to reach out to Syria for help in calming Iraq, some close to the Syrian regime say the country would be willing to help, but only if it got something valuable in return.

Syria certainly is interested in political dialogue with the West and wants talks with Washington, many here say. But the regime of President Bashar Assad will want, in return, help on issues it cares deeply about — such as a return of the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War.

The regime itself has refused to say what it envisions, though it has expressed willingness to help with Iraq and broader peace deals.

But Issa Darwish, a writer and former deputy foreign minister, said: "Syria won't be bitten from the same hole twice," referring to a widespread Syrian feeling that it got nothing in return from the U.S. after it agreed to participate in the earlier 1991 Gulf war to push then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from Kuwait.

"Why should Syria help the Americans to leave Iraq in honor (this time), if they are not ready to reciprocate?" he asked in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

Washington is debating whether the Bush administration should engage Syria and also Iran — two countries it regards as pariah states that work to destabilize the entire Middle East. Some claim Syria could use its control over Iraq's most porous border to alleviate insurrection against the U.S. occupation, and ongoing civil conflict between Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq.

But it is far from certain President Bush will decide to reach out, even if the influential Iraq Study Group recommends it. Last week Bush strongly endorsed his administration's past tough line with both countries, Iran and Syria.

Syria has done some outreach of its own on Iraq. Its foreign minister arrived in Baghdad last week to underline his country's readiness to help stabilize Iraq. While there, he announced a full restoring of diplomatic relations.

Shortly before the Syrian foreign minister arrived, however, a Syrian suicide bomber blew himself up in Hilla, a city to the west, killing 22 Iraqis — and again underscoring how tangled Syria is in its war-wrecked neighbor.

Damascus has repeatedly denied involvement in such attacks, claiming that if Syrians are involved, they are acting on their own because of outrage at the American occupation.

And, Iraqi officials cautioned against any dramatic immediate results from Syria's overture.

"We have expected Syria to show more understanding toward us ... and the first (thing is) to start cooperation with us," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was quoted as telling the Syrian foreign minister, according to a statement by his office.

His foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, was more specific.

He told AP that Syria should help ensure scrutiny of the border, stop infiltration of insurgents and hand over to Iraq insurgency leaders who are believed to be in Syria.

Iraqi officials have long accused Syria of harboring leaders of the former Baath Party who run much of the Sunni-based insurgency. They also accuse Damascus of opening its border for infiltrators and weapons smuggled to the insurgents.

Syria has never made a secret of its opposition to the Americans in Iraq and the government they have installed in Baghdad. The government-run media lavishly praise the insurgents, calling them resistance fighters.

The situation may be further clouded since last week's assassination of another anti-Syrian politician in Lebanon — the last in a string of such slayings that began with the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The United States immediately questioned if Syria were trying to destabilize Lebanon — something that might make the Bush administration even less willing to reach out. The Hariri investigation, which has deeply angered Syria, also seems likely to intensify, not wane, after the latest death.

Overall, political dialogue with Washington would be good for Syria, said Aymen Abdel Nour, a political analyst linked to the reform wing of the ruling Baath party in Damascus.

But he also warned it would come at a high price: Damascus would certainly demand that Washington help Assad regain the Golan Heights from Israel, stop efforts to isolate his regime and also put an end to attempts to implicate Syria in Hariri's death.

"Syria is talking about a package — you either take or leave it," Abdel Nour said. He acknowledged, however, that this "might be difficult for the Bush administration to swallow."

[NormsRevenge]

I got a package for ya, Syria.. a glass-making kit, a big one.

[bert]

Your reward sir is continuing to live. Renege and die.

[NormsRevenge]

Looking out the rear window of a vehicle with a poster showing Bashar Assad, left, his father Hafez Assad centre, and Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with Arabic legend reading 'Men Promised and Fulfilled', in Damasus on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. As the U.S. debates whether to reach out to Syria for help in calming Iraq, some close to the Syrian regime say the country would be willing to help, but only if it got something valuable in return, although the regime itself has stayed tightlipped on the issue. (AP Photo Bassem Tellawi).

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Now that the Democrats are in charge, we can all join hands and sing Kumbaya. We're back to the good old days when all you had to do to get along with terrorists was to give them nuclear power plants, etc., and not say anything bad about them.

[NormsRevenge]

Hezbollah senior members Mohammad Raad (C) and Mohammad Fnaish (R) pay their condolences to former President Amin Gemayel (L) over the death of his son, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, in Bekfaya November 26, 2006. Gemayel was assassinated on Tuesday, as his convoy drove through the Sin el-Fil neighbourhood of Beirut. Bekfaya is the hometown of Gemayel. REUTERS/Dalati Nohra (LEBANON)

[onedoug]

Deals with islamists. What in the hell has happened to this administration?

[GSlob]

Well, their continuing existence ought to be enough of a reward.

[Williams]

When we first invaded Iraq, Syria was making friendly noises on the order of Pakistan. When they and Iran figured out we weren't going to roll into their countries, they went back to bleeding us and Israel to get what they want. It really upsets me that the Bush administration rhetoric about not tolerating terrorsism became just that.

[Williams]

If Bush really is failing us, we may have to wait a long time before we get a government willing to really advance the War on Terror. It's sad.

[SJackson]

Now that the Democrats are in charge, we can all join hands and sing Kumbaya. We're back to the good old days when all you had to do to get along with terrorists was to give them nuclear power plants, etc., and not say anything bad about them.

No, the President is still a Republican. Foreign policy is his domain. If we decide to pander to the axis of evil, it's a Republican decision.

[SJackson]

Now that the Democrats are in charge, we can all join hands and sing Kumbaya. We're back to the good old days when all you had to do to get along with terrorists was to give them nuclear power plants, etc., and not say anything bad about them.

No, the President is still a Republican. Foreign policy is his domain. If we decide to pander to the axis of evil, it's a Republican decision.

[Uncle George]

Its called the old "PROTECTION RACKET".

[rawcatslyentist]

>"Syria may want reward for helping Iraq, hide, and store WMDs.

And their reward shall be, a smoking hole in the ground once known as Damascus.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"If Bush really is failing us, we may have to wait a long time before we get a government willing to really advance the War on Terror. It's sad."

Do you think her heinous would put up with any crap from the ragheads? She'd Ft Marcy Park em reall fast!!

Other than the fact the witch is a stone cold Marxist, she's the only one who has the balls to do what needs to be done!

[Melchior]

This is so much crap. The Bashir should be killed and the Alawites sent back to their mountain caves where they belong. To think you can play "let's make a deal" with the Syrian butchers is the acme of insanity.

[Williams]

unfortunately, Hilary and the foreign policy incompetents she would assemble are most likely to apologize to our enemies.

[HardStarboard]

Hezbollah senior members Mohammad Raad (C) and Mohammad Fnaish, (R) murderers of Pierre Gemayel, pay their condolences to former President Amin Gemayel (L) over the death of his son,

[MaineVoter2002]

Gadaffi's offered help is starting to look better every minute

http://www.cafenetamerica.com

[CyberAnt]

Here's their reward: Isaiah 17:1 - The burden of Damascus. It has been taken away from being a city it has become a ruinous heap!