Looks like we got another country wanting to join the Axis of Evil. Axis of Stupidity, more like. Or Axis of Suicide.
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 12/14/2002 4:34:00 PM PST by MadIvan
Syria is secretly helping Saddam Hussein to prepare for a United Stated-led attack by smuggling vital arms supplies to Baghdad.
Western intelligence officials have discovered that at least 52 crates containing new air-defence systems and spare parts have been smuggled into Iraq from Syria since the start of December.
The Russian-made equipment, which has been purchased through a Belorussian middleman, was taken into Iraq through al-Walid border crossing earlier this month.
The revelations about Syria's military support for Iraq will add to the controversy surrounding President Bashar al-Assad's arrival in Britain today.
He will hold talks with Tony Blair in Downing Street tomorrow, meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday and later attend the Lord Mayor's dinner.
In an interview with The Times last week, Mr Assad publicly defended the activities of Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel, and gave warning that a military campaign to topple Saddam would have "catastrophic consequences" for the region.
While Damascus says it is backing the international campaign against al-Qa'eda, it has recently improved ties with Baghdad, allowing Saddam to open an oil-smuggling route through the port of Latakia.
Syria also allows a number of terrorist groups, including Hizbollah and Hamas, to base themselves in Damascus.
Western intelligence has now established that Syria is helping Saddam to smuggle substantial quantities of arms and spare parts through its territory, for which the Syrians receive an estimated 20 per cent commission on the purchase price.
Defence experts believe that the latest Syrian arms shipments will enable the Iraqis to conduct a radical upgrade of air-defence capabilities - in particular, improving the range and effectiveness of Soviet-made SA6 anti-aircraft missiles.
In recent weeks, Baghdad has been testing its air-defence systems in the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq, prompting a number of retaliatory attacks by British and American warplanes.
Although Syria's clandestine support for the Iraqi regime could pose a threat to any military assault on Baghdad, British officials remain keen to maintain a dialogue with Mr Assad, pointing out that his country actively participated in the 1991 Gulf war to evict Saddam's forces from Kuwait when Mr Assad's father was leader.
Mr Blair is unlikely to persuade the current president to support a military strike against Iraq, however. The last time the two met - in Damascus last year - Mr Blair was embarrassed when Mr Assad delivered a speech defending the actions of Palestinian militants against Israel.
Looks like we got another country wanting to join the Axis of Evil. Axis of Stupidity, more like. Or Axis of Suicide.
Regards, Ivan
Cutting edge Syrian technology will serve Iraq well - (barely supressed snicker)
21:12 13/12/2002 Last update - 23:04 13/12/2002
Syria moves troops on border, experts say steps defensive
By Amos Harel, Ha'aretz Correspondent
The Syrian army has recently made several changes in its deployment of troops along the border with Israel.
After an analysis of the troops movements, however, members of the security establishment believe the changes are designed to boost defenses in the area and eliminate weaknesses in Syrian troop positions.
Security sources said that at this stage, there is no change in the basic assessment that Syria poses no concrete threat to the Golan Heights.
In contrast, Israel is more troubled by the possibility of a deterioration on the northern frontier, at the initiative of Hezbollah, which has a strong presence along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Regards, Ivan
They've been the unofficial outlet for illegal Iraqi oil exports for years. They sponsor Hezbollah. Now this.
Right now, I'm not too fond of these guys.
That's the plan. We strike on the east side of town in Iraq they strike from the west. Bakaa Valley, Damascus etc. A pincer move.
Is he really stupid enough to be getting himself tied up in this? Is he getting anything in exchange? If so, what? Has he already been paid?
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