Kindgo
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GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
White House lobbies for Syria
Opposes bill that sanctions Damascus for support of terrorism
Posted: June 26, 2002
5:00 p.m. Eastern
Editor's note: WorldNetDaily brings readers exclusive, up-to-the-minute global intelligence news and analysis from Geostrategy-Direct, a new online newsletter edited by veteran journalist Robert Morton and featuring the "Backgrounder" column compiled by Bill Gertz. Geostrategy-Direct is a subscription-based service produced by the publishers of WorldTribune.com, a free news service frequently linked by the editors of WorldNetDaily.
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
The White House hopes to stop legislation that would significantly reduce ties with Syria.
The Bush administration has told congressional leaders over the last few weeks that Damascus has provided key intelligence to the United States on Islamic insurgency plots, preventing attacks by al-Qaida and its allies.
Meanwhile, Syria has launched plans to begin the production of the Scud D medium-range missile.
"It is true that the cooperation the Syrians have provided in their own self-interest on al-Qaida have saved American lives," Assistant Secretary of State William Burns said. "And that's a fact."
Burns would not provide details of the intelligence information relayed by Syria. But other U.S. officials cited the arrest of suspected al-Qaida operative Mohammed Haider Zamar.
The German national has been accused of recruiting the suicide attackers for the Sept. 11 strikes in New York and Washington. He was extradited by Morocco to Syria, which has provided CIA investigators with indirect access.
Officials said CIA officers have submitted questions to Zamar via Syrian interrogators. Zamar was said to have told his interrogators that he had helped establish cells of sleeper agents in North Africa.
The White House is trying to block the Syrian Accountability Act, which would end all U.S. aid to Damascus as well as ban trade with Syria until it terminates support for terrorist groups. The legislation is said to have garnered significant support in the House and Senate.
The State Department has lobbied vigorously against the legislation and has quietly told Syria that the bill would not be passed. Officials said the department is pressing for a resumption of a high-level dialogue with Damascus in September that would bring Syria into a U.S.-led peace process in the Middle East.
Such a message was relayed to Syria during a closed seminar between American and Syrian diplomats and officials in Houston May 20-22. The seminar included briefings by U.S. officials on the Washington-led war on terrorism and what diplomatic sources termed as frank discussions on Damascus's support for such groups as Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.
The Defense Department, however, has quietly opposed any reconciliation with Damascus. Senior Pentagon officials said Syria has increased strategic cooperation with Iraq and continues to develop medium-range missiles and weapons of mass destruction.
Earlier this month, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk A-Shaara cancelled plans to meet senior White House officials in Washington. Officials said A-Shaara, who has not been to Washington in about two years, was told that the Bush administration would focus on Syria's support for groups deemed as terrorists.
Meanwhile in a gesture of support for Iraq, Syria is quietly withdrawing from its longtime role as a safe haven for Kurdish separatists.
Syrian authorities over the last six months have launched a crackdown against Kurdish separatists as part of a drive to improve relations with neighboring Iraq. The regime of President Bashar Assad has also ended support for Iraqi opposition forces in Syria.
During the third week of June, a Kurdish separatist leader was arrested in northern Syria. The London-based Al Hayat daily said the leader, identified as Muslim Sheik Hassan, was found with 600 copies of a political tract. Hassan is a member of the Kurdish Democratic Union.
For nearly 20 years, Syria served as a safe haven for both anti-Saddam groups as well as Kurdish insurgents. The turning point for Damascus came in 1998 when Syria, under the threat of war from Turkey, expelled Kurdish Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan.
Arab diplomatic sources said Syrian authorities recalled Kurdish agents and supporters from northern Iraq late last year in an effort to improve relations with Baghdad. The sources said Damascus has since steadily restricted the activities of Kurdish separatists.
The latest restrictions ban Damascus from advocating the violation of territorial integrity of Syria or its Arab allies. The sources said the new measure was introduced in coordination with Iran, Iraq and Turkey.
Syria, however, continues to serve as a transit point for Kurdish separatists based in northern Iraq. The use of Syria is meant to decrease Kurdish dependency on Turkey.
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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