Syria

Syrian activists say the international award which imprisoned human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni received last week could boost the morale of rights campaigners in the country but is unlikely to have any impact on the authorities. Bunni, 48, won the annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk on May 1. His wife Raghida Issa accepted the award on his behalf from Irish president

At last something official came about Tarek , who was arrested without a trial;  kidnapped if I want to be specific; from 7/7/07 "One special date you can't forget " The court at last said its word and it was not a just one as it should be , the court ordered to jail Tarek 3 years for the charge of criticizing  the security authorities !!!????????????? I feel so sad and angry

The United States and Israel insist North Korea provided assistance to Syria in order to begin construction of a nuclear facility. Syria’s Al Kibar reactor was destroyed in an Israel raid on September 6, 2007. US Central Intelligence Director, Michael Hayden, said the reactor was “similar” in size and technology to North Korea’s Yongbyon reactor [...]

By the start of 2007, reports about major upgrades to the Syrian military, including advances in missile technology, with Iranian help were widespread in Israel. The impression of an imminent war existed across much of the Middle East. Syria, Hezbollah, and Iran were reported in Israel to be preparing for a war to spark in the Levant.   It was also claimed in Israel that Damascus had sent secret messages to Tel Aviv that should Israel continue to reject Syria's peace overtures, a war would breakout in the Golan Heights and that Syrian reservists were forbidden from leaving Syria because of the possibility of combat. In June, 2007, an inner circle of the Israeli government that would form a "war cabinet" in a Middle Eastern war scenario was categorically informed that a war

The basic parameters of any peace deal between Israel and Syria have been clear for years. Israel wants diplomatic relations and an end to Syria acting as a sponsor of terror and a key ally of Iran. Syria wants the return of the Golan Heights as well as international recognition and financial aid from the West to prop up its economy.The strategically important Golan, with little biblical significance for Israel and whose settlers are less than hard-line, would become a demilitarised zone to prevent the attacks on the Galil that were rampant before it was captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Syria has indicated its agreement to Israel keeping early-warning stations on the Golan and part of it remaining under Israeli control on a long-term lease or as a nature reserve.At least five Is

"I want to dispense with the need for affirmations, the call for absolute certainties and/or, unmitigated intelligence accuracy. Is not the mere prospect of nuclear technology in the hands of a terror sponsoring state scary enough to warrant action? ... Let’s get something fundamentally clear, even if the reports are only half accurate ... " What we all suspected may have been confirmed last week. On September 6 2007, Israeli jets bombed a nuclear reactor being constructed by Syria with the aid of North Korea somewhere along the Euphrates river - a reactor possibly built for the production of Plutonium. Find below the official U.S. Government 11-minute video showing construction of the purported gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactor at al-Kibar in an isolated desert region in eastern Syr

Syria is a country in south west Asia and borders Lebanon, the Mediterranean sea and the island of Cyprus to the west, Israel to the south west, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east and Turkey to the north. Damascus is the capital of Syria. The Ommayad mosque is a beautiful mosque which stands [...]

Syria termed a willingness on the part of Israel tocede the Golan Heights was not sufficint to achieve peace with its northern neighbor. Turkey has offered to oversee negotiations between the two nations, but Syria wants the United States to be directly be inolved in any peace negotiations. Syrian President Bashar Assad made clear he [...]

Not Guilty in Bell Case: Three New York City police officers have just been found innocent of all charges in the shooting death of an unarmed black man, Sean Bell, who was killed by 50 bullets on his wedding day. Bell, 23, was shot along with two friends, after a bachelor party at a strip club in November 2006. The case has generated outrage in New York's black community. A New York State Supreme Court judge cleared two officers of manslaughter and other charges and a third of reckless endangerment in the death. Syria Secret Nuclear Program: The United States has accused North Korea of helping Syria build a nuclear reactor that "was not intended for peaceful purposes." The US released photographs it said linked North Korea to a plutonium-producing reactor under constr

Iran, today, bitch slapped their red headed step-child… JPost Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a warning to Syria on Thursday not to side with the Americans. “We must always be prepared to thwart the plans of the US in the region,” Ahmadinejad told Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem in Teheran. According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Ahmadinejad [...]

Pathetic pacifism.  Not just to Syria, but to the world community.  It’s insane to think that Syria will commit to peace if the Golan Heights are given back.  They are intent on Israel’s destruction just as much as other Muslim countries are. Why would Olmert go to so much length to appease the international community and [...]

When Jemaah Islamiyah leaders Agus Purwantoro and Abu Husna were captured in Malaysia in mid-April they were seeking false travel documents in preparation for meetings in Syria with an unspecified "international terrorist network," according to reports citing Indonesian and Malaysia police. Abu Husna was alleged to be the current leader of JI as of the time of his arrest. What were these two senior JI officials doing going together on a high-risk mission to Syria, which ultimately led to their being...(read more)

Hezbollah’s TV station Al-Manar reported on Thursday that Syrian President Bashar Assad has said that Syria is preparing for war with Israel as a real possibility.Assad noted, speaking at a conference in Damascus, […]

Former US President Jimmy Carter meets Hamas’s political chief in Syria, as an Israeli minister offers talks. A news by AsianLoveStories.com. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fasianlovestories.com%2Fcarter-meets-hamas-chief-in-syria'; addthis_title = 'Carter+meets+Hamas+chief+in+Syria'; addthis_pub = 'asianlove';

President Bashar Assad of Syria told a Lebanese newspaper his nation accepts the possibility they may wind up in a war with Israel sometime in the coming months. “If israel declares war on Lebanon and Syria or if America declares war on Iran,” his nation is prepared to enter such a fray. He [...]

The deployment took place under the command of President Bashar Assad’s younger brother Maher Assad, chief of the Presidential Guard, the Israeli website Debka claimed on Monday. “Syrian troops are now strung along a continuous crescent-shaped line from the central Lebanese mountains through Mount Dov on the western slopes of Mount Hermon and up to southeastern [...]

I just wrote an article for the Middle East Times on recent developments in Syria. You can read the whole piece here . Here is an excerpt: Syria has been regularly popping up in the news. In fact, recent events point to the importance of that country for the future of the Middle East. Syria's political situation may indeed have an important impact on a few countries: first of course Lebanon, second Iraq, third Israel, and finally Iran. First, one should not underestimate Syria's potential for creating...(read more)

An upcoming joint US-Israel report on the September 6 IAF strike on a Syrian facility will claim that former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein transferred weapons of mass destruction to the country, Channel 2 stated Monday. And you know the mainstream press.Via The Jawa Report

Despicable and completely disgraceful… Zip Writes… In his honor, Hamas will name their next batch of Qassam rockets after him. That way he can finally do what he’s always wanted, kill Jews…. Maan News Agency A plan is coalescing to arrange a meeting between exiled senior Hamas leader Khalid Mash’al and former US President Jimmy Carter in Damascus on [...]

Yesterday, the Jerusalem Post ran a short story about a soon-to-be released US-Israeli report on the September 6, 2007 attack on the alleged North-Korean supplied Syrian nuclear facility. The Post says the (Israeli) attack was related to Saddam’s WMD . This is the text of the relevant part: 'Report on Sept. 6 strike to show Saddam transferred WMDs to Syria': An upcoming joint US-Israel report on the September 6 IAF strike on a Syrian facility will claim that former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein...(read more)

There is a report to come out that says Saddam transfered weapons to Syria. Who wouldhave thought of that??? An upcoming joint US-Israel report on the September 6 IAF strike on a Syrian facility will claim that former Iraqi president...

Australia, Japan and South Korea open campaigns with big wins; Syria SOCCER | WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING Australia, Japan and South Korea open campaigns with big wins; Syria holds Iran to 0-0 draw; China draws 1-1 with IraqSource: www.iht.com England World Cup 2010 Qualification FixturesEngland’s World Cup 2010 qualifying opponents - Eddie Griffin World [...]

During the past few months the government of President Bashar Assad has alternated between expressing a desire for peace with Israel to inflammatory expressions of warlike defiance. The Army radio quoted a “high ranking Arab source” as claiming Assad was willing to risk war with Israel in order to pursue policies in Lebanon which support [...]

President Shimon Peres made clear “we have no intention at all of attacking Syria–Israel is not looking to go to war, and I hear that Syria says the same.” he blamed medida sources of attempting to c reate a crisis out of nothing by making inaccurate reports of Syrian forces moving up to the Israel [...]

The Jerusalem Post -- Iran has set up sophisticated listening stations in Syria in recent months to intercept Israeli military communications, Israeli security officials say.Top brass won't be allowed to bring their mobile phones into rooms where classified information is being discussed, the officials said. And generals will be assigned special areas on bases to conduct private conversations. That way, listening stations won't be able to hear sensitive conversations that might be going on in the background while generals talk on their cellular phones, they explained.

The 20Th Arab summit was finished yesterday and I think that this summit was not a bad or weak as usual like the rest of the other summits at least this what I think. I believed that Syria did something unexpected to host this summit and make it work despite all the American and Western involvements that wanted to prevent it. For the first time the American administration said directly that it did not want the summit to be held in Damascus , the first direct public interfere in the Arabic affairs yet all its plans failed.The Syrians played this round well and won. The American administration wants to isolate Syria in the region in order to weaken Hezbollah for the Sake of Israel and it is doing this by the help of its gang in the region : Saudi Arabia ,Egypt "the past allies of Sy

It has become a byproduct of the Israel-Palestinian conflict for reports to circulate every few months about a seceret Israel initiative to Syria. an Israel government official, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, hinted his nation might be planing to hold secret talks with Syria in an effort to end their long standing dispute over the Golan Heights. “All [...]

The government of Syria has indicated its willingness to hold talks with Israel as long as such discusisons do not interfere with current Israel interactions with the Abbas Palestinian Authority. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mosilem emphasized his nation’s desire to explore all possible alternatives and indicated it would attend a conference in Moscow that would [...]

Future historians writing about Israel at the beginning of the 21st century will describe its inept leadership which did everything possible to move away from peace on the mistaken view only violence can end violence. Syria has conveyed a message to Israel suggesting discussons about peace but only on condition any talks will not be [...]

AINA - Iraqi asylum seekers in Syria have been tricked into believing that they can bribe their way to a better place in line in the queue to the Swedish embassy. The first time I came across these falsifications, was when Marie-Jeanette Löfgren and I produced two documentaries for the program Kaliber on SR (the Swedish state owned radio station). Already on the second day after we landed in Syria, September 2007, I asked Chatarina Kipp, the Swedish ambassador in Syrian's capital city Damascus, if she had heard of the bribes. She dismissed it as rumour and hearsay. Yet a translator who has the pavement outside of the Swedish embassy as his office, claimed that it is true and that I only needed to sit with him for an hour before some of the Iraqis, who were extremely frustrated, would tell

A Pentagon report asserts Syria and Iran are providing assistance to those engaged in fighting in Iraq. About 90% of foreign fighters who are in Iraq crossed over from Syria and Iran is actively engaged in supplying military materials to Shiite militants. As those pressures impact the situation in Iraq, its own government is hampered [...]

Syria is in the midst of "intensely" arming itself, placing into position rockets and missiles capable of striking the entire Jewish state, according to an assessment presented to the Knesset today by multiple Israeli security agencies.Syria, aided by Russia and Iran, has been furiously acquiring rockets and missiles, including projectiles capable of hitting any point in Israel. The officials listed anti-tank, anti-aircraft and ballistic missiles as some of the arms procured by Syria.According to Israeli and Jordanian officials, Syria recently quietly struck a deal with Russia that allows Moscow to station submarines and war boats off Syrian ports. In exchange, Russia is supplying Syria with weaponry at lower costs, with some of the missiles and rockets being financed by Iran."The Iranians

WND – Syria is in the midst of “intensely” arming itself, placing into position rockets and missiles capable of striking the entire Jewish state, according to an assessment presented to the Knesset today by multiple Israeli agencies.   The announcement follows a WND exclusive report last month quoting security officials stating Syria, aided by Russia and Iran, [...]

In the aftermath of the tragic events in Jerusalem, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority urged continuation of peace talks while a seniior Egyptian official told the Jerusalem Post, “Syria may be interested in focusing international attention on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank instead of the situation in Lebanon.” He insisted the [...]

February 13, 2008BEIRUT, Lebanon — A top Hezbollah commander long sought by the United States for his role in terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of Americans in the 1980s, died Tuesday night in Damascus, Syria, when a bomb detonated under the vehicle he was in, Syrian officials said.No one claimed responsibility for killing the commander, Imad Mugniyah, who had been in hiding for many years and was one of the most wanted and elusive terrorists in the world.Mr. Mugniyah, 45, was suspected of planning the 1983 bombings of the American Embassy and a Marine barracks in Beirut; the hijacking of a T.W.A. jetliner in 1985; and a series of high-profile kidnappings in the 1980s, among other crimes. Israel accused him of helping to plan the 1992 bombing of its embassy in Buenos Aires, in which

MEMRI has released a transcript of an interview with Shehada Jawhar , formerly the Al-Qaeda terrorist in charge of training in Iraq, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on December 7, 2007. It is a bloodcurdling look into the mind of a shameless, evil murderer, and every American should read it. For me, two of the key points in the transcript deal with the role of Syria in assisting and promoting terrorism, including an attempt by official Syrian intelligence agents to support Abu Musab al-Zarqawi before...(read more)

This is a real joke seriously what is going in Syria currently , that makes me thank God thousand times that I live in Egypt despite all what the regime does from fighting the naughty bloggers who are exposing its scandals national and world wide As you may have known in the last two weeks the Syrian regime has blocked several web services and hundreds of Websites and blogs The most famous web services that were blocked in Syria are the following : Hotmail.com Blogger.com Facebook.com Youtube.com Google earth "May be for security reasons , but Israel too complained and yet it did not block nor Google changed the maps and surely the Americans and Israelis won't depend upon Google earth , it is blocked so the people will not know where are the palaces and mansions of Al-Assad dynasty !! " The Websites and blogs that are blocked currently are of course for the opposition and forums ,lately the Kurdish and PK supporting Websites joined them "For the Turkish friends of course" Today

An awesome display of electronic warfare capabilities by Israel in September sparked a sharp reaction in Russia today. It all may bode ill for Iran tomorrow.Electronic warfare capabilities reached new heights during the September 9 Israeli attack on Syria. That was the revelation from the November 25 issue of Aviation Week & Space. The revelations apparently touched a nerve somewhere in Russia. Today Pravda carried a story imparting their own spin to the events described in AW&S, along with an interview with Richard J. Aldrich and an editorial wrap-up that featured a scary prediction.The article packed an informational punch. The authors of the AW&S piece, David A. Fulghum, Robert Wall and Amy Butler, covered a lot of ground. Among the highlights were: the elements of the electronic attacks carried out by the Israelis; methods the Israelis used to penetrate Syrian air defenses undetected; an Israeli claim that rejected any link between the Syrian and Iranian nuclear programs; and a re

If Syria switched teams, from its current alignment with Iran to the U.S. aligned Arab states led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Gulf states, it would be a diplomatic masterstroke. It would isolate Iran and cut loose its key terrorist proxies: Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the lesser Damascus-based groups. If it could be done, it might even be worth paying Syria’s price - return of the Golan Heights and wiping the slate clean on past Syrian support for terrorism,...(read more)

Syria softening refusal on conference(AP)AP - Syria is softening its refusal to attend the Annapolis peace conference and already has won dividends, including a visit from Jordan's king that marked an end to regional isolation. Blair discusses Mideast conference with Saudi king(AFP) AFP - Saudi King Abdullah discussed the Middle East peace conference due to be held in the United States next week with peace envoy Tony Blair on Wednesday, the state SPA news agency reported. Rice: own life makes her sensitive to Israeli, Palestinian plight(AFP) AFP - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who hopes to relaunch Middle East peace talks at a conference next week, said her childhood in segregated Alabama made her sensitive to the plight of both the Palestinians and Israelis. Annapolis mayor issues proclamation(AP)AP - Mayor Ellen Moyer issued a proclamation welcoming the upcoming Mideast peace conference to the city: Inquiry results near on Israeli PM(AP) AP - Police investigating cor

Al-Jezeera TV said today that the attack on the alleged Syrian nuclear site was carried out by--The United States? The Middle East is the home of hashish and the TV nabobs at Al-Jazeera must have gotten into the stash when they put out this story.They offer unnamed sources and no traces of radioactivity, not the strongest of evidence, but enough to convince many minds of the steel trap variety on the "Arab Street". More from the Jerusalem Post:The September 6 raid over Syria was carried out by the US Air Force, the Al-Jazeera Web site reported Friday. The Web site quoted Israeli and Arab sources as saying that two US jets armed with tactical nuclear weapons carried out an attack on a suspected nuclear site under construction.The sources were quoted as saying that Israeli F-15 and F-16 jets provided cover for the US planes.The sources added that each US plane carried one tactical nuclear weapon and that the site was hit by one bomb and was totally destroyed.At the beginning of October,

The New York Times has published a remarkable piece on October 27 suggesting that satellite imagery which is now available commercially showed the construction of a nuclear facility in Syria that was well-developed as early as the summer of 2003 , and which had been initiated as early as 2001. In the measured prose of the Times, the informnation "is likely to raise questions about whether the Bush administration overlooked a nascent atomic threat in Syria while planning and executing a war in Iraq,...(read more)

I received this comment from William, a loyal CTB reader, referring to Daveed Gartenstein-Ross' post on Palestinian extremists' use of Google Earth to help determine their targets for rocket strikes: I was just reading about the use of Google Earth by the Palestians and others regarding the use of this program to determine targets in Israel, and the feeble excuse that Google gave, on Counterterrosism blog. I decided to look up Israel and Syria, and lo and behold, if you type in Syria,then zoom to...(read more)

While we are on the subject of rumors, In our new media enhanced universe it's really just a question of time until everything is revealed. Even some things USIsrael government rather leave hidden. Thus, the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) website now serves the original DigitalGlobe imagery pdf report of the location where Israel airstriked Syria September 6 this year.

While proof of a Syrian nuclear site is trickling down, including in this Washington Post article , the question now remains: what exactly do we know about the Syrian nuclear program? Last night, The Croissant ran a story from the Kuwaiti Al Seyassah about potential new secret nuclear sites in Syria. Here is an excerpt: Western sources think that Syrian intelligence provided some information on the facility bombed on September 6 by the Israeli air force in order to focus the attention just on this...(read more)

“The allegations that North Korea was helping to build a nuclear reactor have not been substantiated by US intelligence,” said this intelligence official, adding, “ but that hasn't stopped Dick Cheney and his minions at the NSC, Eliot Abrams and Steve Hadley, from leaking the information, which appears to be misleading in the extreme."read more | digg storyLiberty Central- Conservatism's Blog of Choice

So now we know what it was that captured Israel's attention last month over in Syria - a nuclear reactor. The NY Times is reporting that a partly constructed nuclear reactor was the object of Israeli affection during the air attack that took place last month.I can understand what it's like to be a minority among a majority. I can empathize with someone when they feel unwanted. But Israel has proven again why small nations with umseemingly large chips are so dangerous.Ever tried reasoning with a room full of freaked out, paranoid and panicked cats?Apparently the nuclear reactor was several years away from being able to produce anything remotely resembling bomb-grade plutonium.In an effort to clear things up, an Israeli official said the attack was to "re-establish the credibility of our deterrent power."I'm sorry. Was the Iraqi invasion not a strong enough show of your (our) deterrent power? Because let's be clear -- the only deterrent power Israel has is America standing behi

The Directors of Gulfsands Petroleum plc establishes an important strategic partnership with Cham Holding, which is well recognized as one of Syria's most important business groups. The strategic... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The Directors of Gulfsands Petroleum plc establishes an important strategic partnership with Cham Holding, which is well recognized as one of Syria's most important business groups. The strategic partnership is to be established in the form of a venture company owned 65% by Cham Holding and 35% by Gulfsands (the "Strategic Partnership") with each party responsible for only their proportionate share of funding. The intention of the Strategic Partnership will be to pursue the acquisition of several high-value energy projects in Syria and potentially Iraq (the "Projects"). The directors of Gulfsands and Cham Holding have been working together for some time in pursuing the acquisition of interests in the Projects and matters have now reached a stage where it was considered appropriate to formally establish the Strategic Partnership in order to be in a position to participate in any potential Project through the Strategic Partnership. In addition to its minority position in the Strategi

Welcome to backwards world, or, as most people know it, the world of Dennis Kucinich.In a recent interview with Syrian TV station MemriTV, krazy Kookcinich did nothing short of degrade the United States in regards to Iraq while applauding Syria and encouraging Iran. Kucinich even began to outline his genius peace-keeping plan which includes the "help of Syria and Iran" to "bring in an international peace-keeping force" into Iraq while American troops move out.Exactly what does Kucinich think either of these countries knows about establishing peace? Syria is a haven and known supplier of weaponry for insurgents who cross over an unchecked border into Iraq to fight US and coalition forces, a known contributor to several terrorist organizations, and known to have assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. And, I'm sure we all know that Iran isn't exactly peaceful either, just Google 'Iran' and 'nuclear weapons'. Did Kucinich not get the memo?Two more Kookcinich sta

North Korea vigorously denied having sold nuclear weapons to Syria or had any involvement in nuclear programs with that nation. Their nuclear envoy, Kim Kye Gwan claimed “the matter is fabricated so you can ask the lunatics to explain it.” He charged America turned its back when allies like India or Israel engaged in nuclear activities but came down strong on any nuclear programs by nations it disliked. Syria also denied any nuclear engagement with North Korea and indicated it had no interest in attending the upcoming fall conference dealing with Israel and Palestinians. A spokesperson for the Syrian government noted, “we have no interest in going just to have our photos taken.” He said his government did not believe there was any serious interest in dealing with the Palestinian issue. One thing is for certain, the Syrian spokesperson will never get a job in the Bush administration if he doesn’t want to take advantage of photo-op opportunities. But, Syria

Before the Israeli air force bombed the nuclear sight in Syria, they seized nuclear material traced back to a North Korean source.  This is a very scary scene in  the Middle East and should scare every one with a brain.  Syria, Iran and some of the other terrorists enabling states with "nuclear weapons" is very bad for the whole world.   They do not cherish life as we do and  many are committing suicide bombings.  Have you ever seen the movie The Peacemaker.   We could have that kind of scenario in New York, LA, Chicago or any metropolitan area if the Syrians or Iranians give nuclear weapons to the terrorists.   Be very scared. H/T to Blonde SagacityIsraelis seized nuclear material in Syrian raid Uzi Mahnaimi and Sarah Baxter Also from Sarah Baxter: Snatched: Israeli commandos ‘nuclear’ raid | Israelis 'blew apart Syrian nuclear cache' | Secret US air force team to perfect plan for Iran strike | Alan Greenspan:

With no reason given for Israel’s (apparent) attack in Syria, the media is free to speculate. This may well have been Israel’s intention: empowered the many pro-Israel columnists in the US to have a pro-Israel field day by whipping up fears of Syria, Iran, North Korea and whoever else they want to include. Charles Krauthammer was all too willing to take up the challenge. He admits to having no more inside information than anyone else, yet he has the attack in Syria precisely cased: On Sept. 6, something important happened in northern Syria. Problem is, no one knows exactly what. Except for those few who were involved, and they’re not saying. We do know that Israel carried out an airstrike. How do we know it was important? Because in Israel, where leaking is an art form, even the best-informed don’t have a clue. They tell me they have never seen a better-kept secret. Which suggests that whatever happened near Dayr az Zawr was no accidental intrusion into S

This might be a tad awkward. Less than a month after Israel dropped a few bombs in Syria, the Syrians have been invited to sit at Condi Rice’s Israel-Palestine peace table. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Washington plans to invite six Arab states including Syria to a Middle East peace conference, Abbas’s aides said. Abbas’s senior aide Nimer Hammad said on Saturday Washington would like Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, plus the Palestinian Authority to attend the U.S.-sponsored conference, expected to be held in November. The Story is here: U.S. plans to invite Arabs to peace meeting In other news … Why did Israel hit Syria anyway? Apparently, the Israelis think the Syrians are developing nuclear weapons. The Americans aren’t so sure: American concerns about ties between Syria and North Korea have long focused on a partnership involving missiles and missile technology. Even many ha

The September 6 Israeli bombing of a presumed North Korean-supplied nuclear weapons facility in Syria highlights the ongoing policy challenge posed by Damascus. More than three years after President Bush signed the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act (SAA), Syria continues to support terrorism, destabilize Iraq, meddle in Lebanon, and develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile systems. This week's headlines tell the story: on September 19, yet another anti-Syrian...(read more)

The US and Israel collude on an Israeli air strike on Syria on September 6 and refuse to talk about it. “I’m not going to comment on the matter,” Bush said at a news conference yesterday, brushing aside several questions. See: Israel, U.S. shared data on suspected nuclear site: report Will they not choose to comment when the drop bombs on Iran? What do you mean “I’m not going to comment on the matter?” You just helped bomb another country. Shouldn’t you offer some explanation? So how many countries has the US bombed since WW II? At least 22, now 23. China 1945-46, 1950-53; Korea 1950-53; Guatemala 1954, 1960, 1967-69; Indonesia 1958; Cuba 1959-61; Congo 1964; Peru 1965; Laos 1964-73; Vietnam 1961-73; Cambodia 1969-70; Lebanon 1983-84; Grenada 1983; Libya 1986, El Salvador 1980s; Nicaragua 1980s; Panama 1989; Iraq 1991 to present day; Somalia 1993; Bosnia (Republic of Srpska) 1995; Sudan 1998; Yugoslavia 1999; and Afghanistan 1998, 2001

Rumors continue circulating about the mysterious Israel raid on unknown targets in Syria. Israel political leader Benyamin Nwetanyahu confirmed the raid did occur, but refused to identify its target. It is increasingly apparent the Israel government consulted with America prior to the raid. Rumors suggest the raid dealt with cargo carried by a North Korean ship which claimed to be carrying cement. Apparently, the initial reaction of American officials was doubt the North Koreans were sending nuclear material to Syria since ordinarily the Syrians are more interested in chemical weapons than nuclear but Israel persuaded the US its information was correct. Perhaps, this incident highlights another reality, the more Syria is isolated from the political processes of peace, the greater the likelihood it will engage in secret military operations. US policy has isolated Syria and encouraged clandestine activity.

This morning, Lebanese parliamentarian Antoine Ghanem was assassinated in Beirut. Ghanem, a Phalange MP allied with the pro-West Government led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was the third parliamentarian in the anti-Syrian majority to be killed this year. A fourth, Gibran Tueni, was killed in December 2005. With Ghanem’s death, the Government’s majority has decreased to 68 of 127 MPs--down from 72 a few years ago. The shrinking majority of this democratically elected government raises the very...(read more)

Washington official says Israeli surveillance shows possible Syrian nuclear installation stocked by North Korea, Israeli Arab newspaper claims target of alleged raid last week was Syrian missile base financed by IranIsrael believes that North Korea has been supplying Syria and Iran with nuclear materials, a Washington defense official told the New York Times. “The Israelis think North Korea is selling to Iran and Syria what little they have left,” he said.Meanwhile on Wednesday the Nazareth-based Israeli Arab newspaper The Assennara cited anonymous Israeli sources as saying that Israeli jets "bombed a Syrian-Iranian missile base in northern Syria that was financed by Iran... It appears that the base was completely destroyed."According to the Times, American officials confirmed Tuesday that Israeli jets launched an airstrike inside Syria. Sources said that Israel struck at least one target in northeastern Syria, but could not provide more details.The most likely target was, accordin

The accumulating evidence of the last days points in a very clear direction. The Israeli Air Force indeed attacked some targets in Syria. The operation was evidently successful, since the Syrians were fast in reporting it, trying to make it sound a minor event. For an audience not accustomed to rely on Syrian media as a source of information, this was surprising, and all the more so as the silence on the Israeli side kept strong. Apparently, the Syrians expected the Israelis to be quick with boastful reports, providing details of the site attacked, the purpose of the attack and the consequences of its success. The Israeli silence took them by surprise, and made them realize that their cover-up report was somewhat premature. However, one should keep in mind that the wreckage of the attack was such that did not allow complete silence on the matter in Syria, for internal reasons.If the Syrians will indeed, as most commentators expect at this point, not retaliate, this will not be the

Syria news agency said that Israeli air crafts have crossed the northern boarder and bombed a location inside Syrian territory. Agency report also stated that there was no damage or casualties, and that its army fired on the planes. Syria warned against future breaches of its air space. Radio Israel denied the accusation, but added that there will be additional checks.Tensions between Israel and Syria have risen dramatically in the last 18 months, fuelled by Israel war in neighboring Lebanon and Syrian involvement with Hezbollah.Read more about Syria accusation in AP article

Bangladesh got off on the wrong foot as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Syria in their opening Nehru Cup match at the Ambedker Stadium in New Delhi yesterday.Syria struck both the goal in the second-half after an evenly competed first 45 minutes where Bangladesh looked a slightly better side.Sporting green and white shirts, the boys of Nayeemuddin did well to keep the top-ranked side of the five-nation invitational tournament at bay in the first-half with tough marking. Moreover they created two half-chances on the break with first effort of left-back Titu missing the far post. Zahid then drove a 25-yard right-footer just over the bar.Syria, who had earlier won their two previous meetings with Bangladesh, however quickly showed why they have been tipped as the team to beat in the meet. They put an extra attacker down the left side after the break and it gave them instant result.Captain Maher Al Sayed opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a swerving right-footer that hit the lef

Bangladesh will kick off their Nehru Cup campaign today when they take on favourites Syria at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi in the second match of the tournament.Zee Sports will telecast the match live from 7.30pm Bangladesh time.The event got under way yesterday in the Indian capital with hosts India facing rank-outsiders Cambodia after President Pratibha Patil declared the five-team meet open.Bangladesh have never beaten Syria - the highest ranked team in the tournament - but both their previous meetings in the 80s resulted in close shaves.Syria, currently placed 113 in FIFA rankings, won 1-0 when they first met Bangladesh in Kuwait in the Asian Nations Cup in 1980.The two sides were face to face again four years later in Indonesia in the Asian Cup qualifiers with the Syrians winning 2-1.However, the two teams headed separate directions since then. While the Syrians have reached just behind the top Asian nations, Bangladesh have hardly impressed outside south Asian regional tourn

Bangladesh take on Syria in their lung-opener on the second day of the ONGC Nehru Cup international football tournament beginning at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Friday.The 27-member Syrian team led by Tajeddin Fares, vice president of the country's soccer federation, arrived here yesterday to become the first foreign team to reach the Indian capital for the five-nation competition.The Syrians, who had a two hour workout here soon after arrival, are without six key players, four of whom are preparing back home for this month's Beijing Olympics qualifier against Bahrain on August 22.Fares informed that two other Syrian players have not been released by their clubs in Kuwait and Jordan.However, he was confident about his team's prospects in the tournament.Syrian coach Fajer Ibrahim, who has been in charge for the last two years, said Syria had beaten Kyrgyzstan in the last World Cup qualifier and have a very good record against Bangladesh.They also beat Jordan and Lebanon before losin

RECIPE INGREDIENTS6 small zucchini (or 3 large cut in half)1/2 pound ground lamb (or beef)1/4 cup uncooked rice2 pressed garlic cloves1 minced onion2 teaspoons salt, divided into two−one teaspoon portions1 8−oz. can tomato sauce3 cups water2 tablespoons lemon juiceRECIPE METHODWash zucchinis and cut green caps off.Core each zucchini with a coring knife, scooping out insides.Save the insides and set aside.Mix lamb (or beef), rice, garlic, onion and 1 teaspoon salt.Knead well. Stuff each zucchini with the meat mixture.If you have more meat mixture than zucchini , make meatballs out of the remaining stuffing. In the bottom of a 5−quart pot, place the insides of the carved zucchinis, then arrange the stuffed zucchini on top of them. Add remaining salt, tomato sauce, water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil on high heat.Reduce to medium heat and cook for 20 minutes, or until tender.Serve with rice or bread.

From The Hill; a senator we wouldn’t trust enough to be president, but certainly understand his participation in conspiring for defeat, John Kerry said, “he believes more than 60 senators would vote for a change in the Iraq strategy if they were allowed to vote their conscience on a measure to redeploy U.S. troops.” Interestingly, two Republicans in support of the effort to support the enemy were in attendance when JFK2not made the remarks. Olympia Snowe, Republican from the North Eastern state of Maine said of the measure: ‘“We are at a crossroads between hope and reality.”’ Ain't that the issue in a nutshell? Putting on their jammies and making believe they are working at night as they make believe during the day; CNN reports: “Frustrated by Republican efforts to block votes on bringing American combat troops home from Iraq” Because we all know the Republicans don’t want them home, ever. Following the lead of their “leader,” the p

:: 'WAR WITH SYRIA will be 10 times worse than with Hizbullah' says Jerusalem Post today. PREDICTING that war with Syria could erupt if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not begin peace negotiations with Damascus, the latest IDF assessment also states that such a conflict would be "at least 10 times worse" than last summer's conflict with Hizbullah. Military Intelligence is also identifying and pinpointing targets for the IDF in the event that a strike is launched against Iran's nuclear facilities. The assumption is that a war with Syria would erupt due to a "miscalculation" along the border, in the form of a terrorist attack that escalates into a larger conflict. THE ASSUMPTION that a war with Syria would erupt due to a "miscalculation" along the border, in the form of a terrorist attack that escalates into a larger conflict. Syria has come to believe that the United States will attack Iran this summer, and that as a result, Israel will on

In another story anout how Russia is not our friend category, the Russians are going to sell advanced MiG 31s to Syria and also dual role MiG 29s. This is not a good sign for peace in the Middle East....

(Ehud Olmert) Right wing blasts PM over Syria report - The Jerusalem PostExcerpt:"Right-wingers were seething on Friday afternoon after a report that a recent flurry of secret messages from Israel to Syria signaled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's willingness to give up the Golan Heights in return for a peace agreement."http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181228572173&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFullAlex

Turkish authorities seized weapons hidden among construction materials on a Syria-bound train from Iran after Kurdish guerrillas bombed and derailed the train. The cargo was discovered when authorities checked containers on the train, which was attacked by separatist Kurdish guerrillas on May 25 near the town of Genc in southeastern Bingol province, Prosecutor Ismail Sari told reporters Wednesday. The bomb attack derailed seven of the train's cars, Sari said. Authorities were investigating the incident, and would also check cargo on the rest of the train, he said.The Iranian Embassy issued a statement Wednesday denying that the weapons belonged to Iran, and said the allegations were being made "by circles" aiming to disrupt Turkey's close relations with Iran. More...

See how popular Bashar al-Assad is? 97.6 percent of the vote; that's almost as good as Saddam Hussein.This is worthy of the entire article...from The NY Times:"President Bashar al-Assad won 97.6 percent of the vote in a national referendum on Sunday that anointed him to a second seven-year term, officials said. The 41-year-old president was the only candidate allowed to put his name forward in the procedures leading to the vote. Parliament held a session to ratify the results. Then all 250 members rose and chanted “Syria has only God and Bashar!”DeMediacratic Nation BlogrollsPlease give this Post/Blog a Vote - Trackposted to Perri Nelson's Website, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Maggie's Notebook, The Pet Haven Blog, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, The Bullwinkle Blog, Cao's Blog, and Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Seventy percent of insurgents fighting in Iraq come from Gulf countries via Syria where they are provided with forged passports, an Iraqi intelligence officer alleged in a published report Wednesday. "They, according to their own confessions, gather in mosques in the said (Gulf) states to travel to Syria using their passports, taking with them phone numbers of individuals waiting for them there," Brig. Gen. Rashid Fleih, the assistant undersecretary for intelligence of Iraq's Interior Ministry, told Kuwait's Al-Qabas daily in an interview. Fleih did not provide more specific details about the alleged insurgents or which countries they come from. But he said once in Syria, the alleged insurgents are transported to the al-Qaim border area. Individuals provide the men them with new passports after destroying the old ones, Fleih alleged in an interview from Baghdad. American and Iraqi officials claim Syria does not do enough to prohibit people of different nationalities from crossing its

I woke as we neared the Syrian border, my left cheek clammy and wrinkled. Saliva had collected on the headrest of my reclined bus seat, and gone cold. I rubbed life back into rubbery skin, and looked outside. The land was drier than yesterday, when I had watched the sun set over central Turkey through [...]

India and Syria have identified several areas to push their growing ties in the hydrocarbon sector, including exploration, production, refining, marketing and training. The broad outline of cooperation was reached during the ongoing visit of India's Petroleum Minister Murli Deora to Damascus where he not only met with his Syrian counterpart Sufian Al-Alao, but other senior officials as well. "

Monsters and Critics: PREVIEW: Syria prepares for parliamentary poll amid indifferenceExcerpt:"(Eds: voting takes place Sunday and Monday)Damascus (dpa) - Preparations for parliamentary elections in Syria were underway Monday amid a high degree of public indifference and threats by opposition parties to boycott the poll.Some 9,640 candidates have been for election to Syria's 250-seat parliament since late March, with little of the extravagance and dissipation that have characterised previous elections.A 10-party coalition - the National Progressive Front (NPF), led by Syria's ruling Baath Party, is widely expected to win the lion's share of the vote in polling on Sunday and Monday."http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1292362.php/PREVIEW_Syria_prepares_for_parliamentary_poll_amid_indifference

It appears that Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Syria and the gaffs that ensued with Israel are so egregious that even the liberal newspapers have to report it. They tried to hold out and report this trip as a step toward middle east peace. They were hoping that she would be able to embarrass the president and show that appeasement is the way to treat terrorists such as the leader of Syria. Unfortunately Nancy Pelosi lied to Syria about peace talks with Israel, angering one of our biggest allies. And she actually committed a felony by traveling to Syria and conducting foreign policy against the will of the president. All this has led to liberal papers having to come out and denounce Nancy Pelosi, you know it had to be hard on them. Maybe these liberals aren’t as smart as they think they are.

Bravo, "Globe and Mail"! The Globe and Mail Weekend07 Apr 2007U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should hope that she does not end up as another Ségolène Royal, the French Socialist presidential candidate who embarrassed herself when trying to enhance her foreign credentials in the Middle East. Ms. Royal’s mistake was her failure to speak up when a Hezbollah politician compared Israel’s past role

It appears as though Nancy Pelosi may have committed a felony by heading to Syria. The Logan act makes it a felony for anyone to travel to a foreign country and conduct foreign policy without authority of the president. I doubt very much the president would ever take action on this, and I suppose I don’t blame him, but I almost wish he would. The fact that you won’t see this covered in the media is a clear indictment on the media.

The White House has spend the better part of the week blasting Speaker Nancy Pelosi for going to Syria and meeting President Assad. Whether or not Pelosi was right for going, the White House HAS been strangely quiet on three other members of Congress who were in Syria this week...all Republicans.Congressmen Frank Wolf (R-Virginia), Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) and Joseph Pitts (R-Pennsylvania) were in Syria a few days before Pelosi. All three have been critical of the President's response to Pelosi's trip;"I don't care what the administration says on this. You've got to do what you think is in the best interest of your country, I want us to be successful in Iraq. I want us to clamp down on Hezbollah." -Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Virginia"This is an area where we would disagree with the administration, None of us in the Congress work for the president. We have to cast our own votes and ultimately answer to our own constituents. ... I think there's room that we can try to work with them as l

Nancy Pelosi went to a terrorist state, and enemy of the United States, and did what Democrats do best. She made promises she can’t, and has no intentions to, keep. She told Syria that Israel was ready to negotiate peace. The only problem is, it was a lie. She either did this intentionally to try and embarrass the president, or she is just foolish and naive. Either way she made a huge blunder this week, and her mistakes just keep piling up. What she did manage to do was anger our biggest ally in the middle east, Israel. You can read an opinion piece about this here, or you can read about all of her missteps here.

Washington Post article link Pratfall in DamascusNancy Pelosi's foolish shuttle diplomacyThursday, April 5, 2007; A16HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. What's more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to "resume the peace process" as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. "We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria," she said.Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message. "What was communi

The Washington Post has a great article on Nancy Pelosi's recent trip to Israel and Syria. Pratfall in DamascusNancy Pelosi's foolish shuttle diplomacy Thursday, April 5, 2007; A16 HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why...

I feel much better now that I know Jimmy Carter endorses Nancy Pelosi’s trip to one of our enemies. Just knowing that one of the worst presidents in US history is on her side, I know I am on the right side of this issue. Jimmy Carter is the last person in this country who should talk about foreign policy. Bill Clinton is next, after giving away our nuclear secrets. Of course Democrats have a long history of coddling dictators. They envy the power that dictators are able to maintain over their people. Democrats are socialists at heart and that is only one step away from communism.

Following in the traitorous footsteps of John Kerry Speaker of the House and MOST POWERFUL WOMAN EVER BORN Nancy Pelosi is heading off to Syria. A country known as a supporter of terrorism second only to Iran. Why is she doing this? The hatred that Democrats have for President Bush is so deep and virulent that there is no deed too low nor too dastardly that they won't do to embarass or "punish" the President. And if America suffers becaue of what they do then too bad "It's for the greater good" in their minds. Does this count as consorting with the enemy? Whats next on her agenda, lunch with the mullahs in Iran? Maybe a latte and scones at Starbucks with Osama himself? When first taking control of the House she said "there would be no impeachment proceedings brought against President Bush". What she didn't articulate out loud is the word "immediately". Every little bump in the road since the Democrats assumed the leadership of the House has h

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will visit Syria, a country President Bush has shunned as a sponsor of terrorism, despite being asked by the administration not to go. In our view, it is not the right time to have these sort of high- profile visitors to Syria,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Friday. Her repeat trip, an indication she plans to play a role in foreign policy, is also a direct affront to the administration, which says such diplomatic overtures by lawmakers can do more harm than good. Pelosi will not be the first member of Congress in recent months to travel to Syria, but as House speaker she is the most senior. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the speaker “should take a step back and think about the message that it sends.” Source Fact finding trip? What kind of facts does she think she’s gonna find in Syria? Israel or Iraq is one thing, but Syria? Sometimes the White House just might know what they are s

Israel’s leadership needs to take preemptive action quick. They need to stop heeding world pressure and just wipe out the Palestinian terrorists and Hezbollah. These are little flies that will become very annoying in case of war with Iran. And don’t be fooled by the UN’s spineless... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

More dollar dumping — According to The Financial Times, The Bank of Korea plans to diversify its foreign currency reserves to gain higher returns. Apparently the bank is not happy with the U.S. (...)

The term “escalation” may include more than just U.S. troop levels. Reports the Washington Note’s Steve Clemons: Did the President Declare “Secret War” Against Syria and Iran? Washington intelligence, military and foreign policy circles are abuzz today with speculation that the President, yesterday or in recent days, sent a secret Executive Order to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director of the CIA to launch military operations against Syria and Iran. The President may have started a new secret, informal war against Syria and Iran without the consent of Congress or any broad discussion with the country. President Bush made harsh comments, threats by most people’s circumstances, toward Syria and Iran in his national address last night. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American tr

These birds are headed for extinction with fewer than 300 counted in the world, but researchers recently found 7 of them in Syria, where they haven’t been seen in 70 years. National Geographic has an excellent video summary.