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Wednesday, February 16, 20051108538100
A Syria-US Matter
"U.S. Pressure Mounts on Syria," CNN, http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/15/beirut.explosion/index.html, 16 February 2005 (from Collounsbury).
"Iran, Syria 'Form Common Front'," BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4270859.stm, 16 February 2005.
Earlier, I blogged
We should use the tension of Iran's quest for the Bomb, along with events like al-Harari's assassination, to make a deal with Iran: the Bomb for Syria. It's in their interests. It's in our intersts. It's in the interests of the peace of the world.
Hopefully this is coming true. Syria-U.S. relations are fraying
U.S. pressure is mounting on Syria in the wake of the deadly bomb blast in Lebanon that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Both direction and speed are against Damascus
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday Syria was "unfortunately on a path right now where relations are not improving, but are worsening".
Who killed Harari? Who cares:
"I have been very careful to say we really don't know who committed this murder at this point, but we do know what effect the Syrian presence in Lebanon has," Boucher said.
Our ambassador was recalled
Ambassador Margaret Scobey was returning to Washington for "urgent consultations," Boucher said, because of "deep concern, as well as our profound outrage, over this heinous act of terrorism."
Now, take Iran's new tune
Iran and Syria say they are to form a common front to face challenges and threats from overseas.
"We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian PM Naji al-Otar
This is reciprocity
Both countries are under intense US pressure, with Washington accusing Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons.
Iran is realstic. They believe that a functioning nuclear weapon will improve their position in the Middle East. And they know an Iraq-Iran Axis allows them to begin the liberation of East Arabia.
Syria is opposed to a Shia-Kurdish Iraq. Combining his father's cynicism with his own incompetence, Bashar Asad is trying to maintain a balance of power favorable to Syria. He has been supporting the anti-Shia insurgency and selling his alliance with Iran down the river.
Iran's sudden statement reminds us that Syria is traditionally in Tehran's sphere. It still has some value. And like any valuable thing, it can be traded away.
01:15 Posted by Dan tdaxp (Webmaster) in Greater Syria, Iran | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: syria, harari, rice, asad