Syria calls U.S. accusation of harboring terrorists an "insult"

SwissInfo ^ | 15 April, 2003

[Happy2BMe]

April 15, 2003 2:00 PM

 

Syria calls U.S. accusation an "insult"

 

By Daniel Trotta

MADRID (Reuters) - Syria's ambassador to Spain has called U.S. accusations that Syria harboured terrorists an insult and criticised what he called U.S. blackmail.

He was speaking a day after senior U.S. officials threatened sanctions over charges that Damascus supported terrorism, was harbouring Iraqi leaders and developing chemical weapons.

"It's an insult to my country, an insult to a country that is a member of the U.N. Security Council and an insult to a peaceful country that is struggling and working for a lasting peace in the Middle East," the ambassador, Mohsen Bilal, told Spain's Cadena Ser radio on Tuesday.

"We reject this accusation categorically because it is baseless," he said when asked about a White House spokesman's description of Syria as a terrorist state harbouring terrorists.

Bilal also denied Syria had granted protection to senior Iraqi leaders who may have fled across the border.

He also said the war against Iraq was motivated by oil interests and protecting Israel.

"They now have the oil, and the destruction of Iraq ... Today begins the second phase of the war which is to make Israel the most potent force in the Middle East," he said.

With Iraq's Saddam Hussein toppled, Washington is turning up the heat on neighbouring Syria.

U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accused Damascus on Monday of testing chemical weapons within the last 12-15 months and of harbouring Saddam's top associates. Secretary of State Colin Powell warned of possible diplomatic or economic sanctions.

"They are blackmailing our country," Bilal said.

Spain's foreign minister, Ana Palacio, speaking in Brussels on Monday, called the bellicose statements from Washington "unfortunate".

BUSH ASKS AZNAR FOR HELP

U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday enlisted Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in the campaign to put pressure on Syria, asking him to warn Damascus not to give shelter to senior Saddam aides.

Aznar, one of Bush's most loyal allies on Iraq, said he hoped to speak with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad either on Tuesday or Wednesday but that he would not make any demands.

"Syria has been and will be a friend of Spain. It will not be the target of any war actions. I am convinced that the conflict will not spread to other countries in the region," Aznar told a news conference in Warsaw on Tuesday.

[Happy2BMe]

Syria is talking out of the same "end" Hussein used all those years. It seems they are not taking George W. Bush seriesly.

Don't they watch T.V.?

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[evad]

Syria calls U.S. accusation of harboring terrorists an "insult"

YES..it is.
Now hand 'em over.

[joesnuffy]

Baghdad Bob moved to Damascus?

[Conspiracy Guy]

It reads, "Syria calls U.S. accusation an "insult"".

Now, let's add a little injury to that insult.

[Fudd]

Don't they watch T.V.? ... It would appear they've been watching Baghdad Bob, and are convinced the Americans are not within a hundred miles of Baghdad.

[mewzilla]

They must be watching CNN. If you caught their reporting from Syria this morning you know what I mean.

[VRWC_minion]

Syria, blackmail is far superior to being invaded. Count your blessings.

[mewzilla]

Can Assad, Jr. count?! (I heard that he's the dim one...)

[Happy2BMe]

"They must be watching CNN. If you caught their reporting from Syria this morning you know what I mean."

CNN is in the HOT SEAT - they got "found-out."

CNN has known for years the people of Iraq have lived under daily toruture tactics of the Hussein regime.

They NEVER REPORTED IT - supposedly to save the lives of innocent Iraqis.

Now WHO would you stake your credibility on?

CNN needs a good, thorough investigation by the FCC.

[mewzilla]

All true, but guess what tack CNN is taking with Syria? Ooops, they've done it again....

[ChadGore]

Re: They NEVER REPORTED IT - supposedly to save the lives of innocent Iraqis.

Hey CNN, No blood for ratings !

[jriemer]

Actually the Syrians should take the "accusation" of hiding Iraqi leaders within their country as a complement. This act has instantly promoted their third-world Arab sand-pit into a first-world palace of intruige, den of theives and bordello whores - just like France.

[Happy2BMe]

"This act has instantly promoted their third-world Arab sand-pit into a first-world palace of intruige, den of theives and bordello whores - just like France."

I'm sure you've noticed the "inspiration" the Husseins have drawn from their French brothers - the cognac, the wines, porn, furniture, mirrors, COWARDICE!

DESECRATION OF GRAVES

By SIMON HUGHES

SICK French yobs daubed a swastika and vile anti-war slurs at a cemetery for 11,000 British troops.

The showpiece cenotaph at the graveyard in Northern France was smeared in red paint with the words: “Dig up your rubbish. It’s fouling our soil.”

Other slogans at the Etaples cemetery near Boulogne included “Death to the Yankees” and “Saddam Hussein will win and spill your blood.”

And the vandals wrote “Rosbeefs go home” — the French insult for Brits is roast-beefs. Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush were also branded war criminals.

The graffiti was discovered by a shocked gardener and spotted by around 80 visitors. It was cleaned off the same day.

Roy Hemmington — spokesman for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission — said: “We are deeply offended. This is the strongest language and most vile graffiti I have witnessed at a war graves cemetery.

“The suggestion that the bodies of soldiers who died for France should be dug up is particularly foul.”

Most soldiers buried at the cemetery were defending France at the Somme and Ypres during World War I.

Another 122 are troops who died fighting the Nazis in World War II.

Among the dead are a winner of the Victoria Cross, 217 holders of the Military Medal and 69 holders of the Military Cross.

A number had been awarded France’s top military decoration, the Legion d’Honneur.

Roy added: “Almost every British regiment has war dead here. This insults just about the entire British Army.”

Anti-British feeling has been whipped up in France since President Jacques Chirac refused to let the UN back action against Iraq.

Last night Jim Kelleher, chief clerk to the Royal Fusiliers Association, said: “No sane person would do this. It is a disgrace. I have family buried in France and if I could get my hands on whoever did this I’d bury them too.”

Jeremy Lillies, of the Royal British Legion, added: “It is distressing.”

The Sun’s Military Adviser Major-General Perkins said: “It is despicable.”

Appalled local MP Jacques Lang said: “It is an attack on the memory of the British and American soldiers who contributed to the liberation of our soil.”

Police captain Thibault Martin added: “It is sick and cowardly.”

The shocking news comes as a new poll reveals that a third of the French want SADDAM to win the war.

A massive 78 per cent of 1,000 people in the poll by French newspaper Le Monde disapproved of the Allied action.

But 16 per cent “really wish for” a Coalition victory — while 37 per cent said they would prefer one.

[Ebenezer]

Syria is insulted. So?

An insult is not necessarily a lie.

[Happy2BMe]

" hes got a new reality coming."

Saw a good take on Ass-ahd last night on FOX.

The 'lill turd is an optomotrist who got thrown into the lead by his daddy (the King) as a last resort (after his older brother was killed in an accident).

The puke barely has control over his Baath party.

Yep - he has the same mindset as his (dead) cousins over in Iraq.

We will toy with this jerk for awhile. He is now a hugh target. Turkey (to the north) controls the largest water supply for Syria and Israel (to the south) is one frog's hair from launching their own "jihad" on Ass-ahd.

This little fart has the brains of a snake.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Well...there is the matter of all those Syrian passports collected from four bus loads of terrorists, courtesy UK Marines.

[Congressman Billybob]

So far, the Syrians have several spokesmen offering denials. They have not yet settled on one spokesman, to lie through his teeth in good English to the assembled world press.

They do not yet have "a star born in Syria," a Damascus Dave to attempt to fill the mighty shoes of Baghdad Bob, who, sad to say, might have been blown up in the restaurant "remodeling" which the US did in a Baghdad neighborhood. Gone but not forgotten, as they say.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, now up on UPI, and FR, "I Believe" (1957-2003)

Latest book(let), "to Restore Trust in America."

[rrrod]

im deeply saddened by these insults ...he he h e