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| Syria-Lebanon |
| Syria Rejects Bush ’Harboring’ Charge |
| 2003-07-22 |
| The Palestinians Syria has granted a haven are engaged in a struggle for freedom, not terrorism, a Syrian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday in response to renewed criticism from U.S. President George W. Bush. Speaking at a joint news conference at his Texas ranch with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Bush on Monday accused Syria and Iran of continuing to harbor terrorists and said terrorism was the greatest obstacle to peace in the region. The United States has labeled hard-line Palestinian groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad — which have carried out suicide attacks on Israeli civilians — that for years operated out of Damascus as terrorist. Under U.S. pressure, Syria recently closed the offices of the Palestinian groups, but most of their officials continue to work from their homes in Damascus or from neighboring Beirut, Lebanon. Telecommuting also helps you avoid car bombs, ambushes and those pesky helicopter gunships. "It is not possible for Syria to consider the Palestinian struggle for freedom, independence and ending Israeli occupation (of Arab territories) to be terrorism," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Buthaina Shaaban said at a news conference in Damascus Tuesday. "Cuz that would mean facing reality and we can’t do that." Shaaban called Bush’s criticism "part of continued old and new pressures (exerted) because of Syria’s clear stands regarding events in the region," Shaaban said. How about that, he got one right! Syrian-U.S. relations have long been strained by Washington allegations that Damascus supports terrorism. During the Iraqi war, tension heightened when the United States accused Syria of supplying military equipment to the Iraqis and giving refuge to members of the ousted government of President Saddam Hussein. Syria denied the charges. "Wasn’t us, it was somebody else." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 I would still like to know the status and level of Iraqi oil imports into Syria. They are at the mercy of our valve operators, and Syrian oil fields have been overpumped in the past, which has hurt them. Syria needs to comply or go dry.... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-7-22 3:01:15 PM |
| #2 I have an idea! Why don't we take a bunch of our tanks and planes and head West, and the Israelis take their tanks and planes and head North Northeast and we'll shake hands somewhere in the Middle. Bet there'd be a whole bunch of shut-up breaking out in the mosques. |
| Posted by: Hodadenon 2003-7-22 1:45:21 PM |
| #1 #2 on the shit list, with a bullet. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-7-22 12:35:22 PM |