You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Assad betting we're not serious
2004-03-07
A senior adviser to President Hosni Mubarak said yesterday he doubted the United States would take any action against Syria beyond making threats and applying pressure, the official news agency MENA reported. Presidential adviser Osama El-Baz spoke in MENA in Paris, where Mubarak had talks on Friday with President Jacques Chirac. “It may be a matter of going to the limits in making threats, because Syria cannot be accused of the same charges made against Iraq,” said Baz, who has been among the top foreign policy decision-makers in Egypt since the 1970s. “As far as Syria is concerned, it’s a question of practicing pressure,” he added. “ Baz ruled out any serious American inclination to carry out any action against Syria,” MENA reported.
If the Boy President bets the farm on that, he could end up sitting next to Sammy...
US congressional sources said on Friday that the US administration planned to impose sanctions on Syria within weeks for its support of Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups. Several sources said the administration was leaning toward imposing economic rather than diplomatic sanctions under legislation signed by President George W. Bush in December. The legislation, the Syria Accountability Act, bans trade in items that could be used in weapons programs until the administration certifies Syria is not supporting “terrorist” groups, has withdrawn personnel from Lebanon, is not developing unconventional weapons and has secured its border with Iraq. Syria says its support for the Palestinian and Lebanese groups is merely political and their only activity in Syria is speaking to the media. After the rapid fall of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein last year, conservatives close to the Bush administration openly advocated military action against Syria. But Washington’s difficulties in Iraq have dampened any enthusiasm the administration may have had for another military adventure in the Middle East, analysts say.
Ahhh... That's what they're counting on.
Baz also said it was premature to speculate about a possible meeting between Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh after a visit to Cairo next week by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. However, senior Israeli and Egyptian officials are to meet early next week to discuss Sharon’s proposed evacuation of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, public radio said yesterday.
Posted by:Fred

#15  No, we probably won't invade. But that doesn't mean we can't kill anything that moves along the border without 12 hours advance notice.
Posted by: mojo   2004-3-7 4:35:14 PM  

#14  Hmmm... I don't know whether I'm underestimating Bush or not, and I'm certainly not a Donk: I'm just trying to maintain a clear mental distinction between what I actually know and what I can only suspect (or hope for, as in the matter of getting physical with Syria and Iran).

Speaking of getting physical, I'm not sure just how much Bush can do without additional Congressional authorization; I suspect, not too much.

And it may be that we won't see anything more until after the election, when (I dearly hope) a larger Republican majority will pave the way for Bush getting authorization to kick some more ass.
Posted by: Dave D.   2004-3-7 2:52:59 PM  

#13   do the Donks drink a special "Misunderestimate" water or something? Or is it some kind of a disease?
It's a hereditary defect. In some places it's called "stupidity", in others, it's called "duckassitis". It's deadly if untreated. Unfortunately, Donks tend to avoid the treatment about the same way Nigerian Muslims avoid innoculations. It requires reading, listening, and thinking - the last of which is most important, and least done.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2004-3-7 1:21:03 PM  

#12   do the Donks drink a special "Misunderestimate" water or something? Or is it some kind of a disease?
It's a hereditary defect. In some places it's called "stupidity", in others, it's called "duckassitis". It's deadly if untreated. Unfortunately, Donks tend to avoid the treatment about the same way Nigerian Muslims avoid innoculations. It requires reading, listening, and thinking - the last of which is most important, and least done.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2004-3-7 1:21:02 PM  

#11  The other thing Assad and the Mullahs ought to be worried about is that, if Bush does lose, he's got about 10 weeks (from the election to the inauguration) free use of the world's most devastating military arsenal, with no political consequences to worry about. "Adios, muchachos!."
Posted by: Matt   2004-3-7 12:43:28 PM  

#10  Mr. Davis, agree completely, but please get your language right. That's misunderestimate Bush. :-p

Speaking of which, do the Donks drink a special "Misunderestimate" water or something? Or is it some kind of a disease?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-3-7 12:08:29 PM  

#9  Now you are starting to underestimate Bush. A great deal has been accomplished in the last two years. Osama is the target this spring. This summer, we turn over control to an Iraqi government. The fall is the election. The winter is the strategy setting for the next four years. Spring '05, you may like what happens. But a lot of it will happen without knocking heads.
Posted by: Mr. Davis   2004-3-7 10:25:50 AM  

#8  
"I'm assuming that the Bush onslaught will start in the summer, and on November 4th, baby Assad and the Mullahs break out in a cold sweat."
And if the gloves don't come off regarding Syria and Iran immediately after the election, it is we who should be breaking out in a cold sweat.

After our initial boldness, we seem to have sunk into an increasing timidity- and it's got me worried. This "Arab Democracy Initiative" is a noble undertaking, certainly, but I had always considered that our major purpose in being in Iraq was to be in a position to apply real, palpable pressure to the chief sources of the terrorist problem: Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran. And I don't see very many signs that we are actually doing that.
Posted by: Dave D.   2004-3-7 9:29:04 AM  

#7  Good grief - not the brightest of buttons are they.

I think it is imperative that GWB wins in November, and have been keeping an eye on the Democratic selection process (which was ... interesting). I'm assuming that the Bush onslaught will start in the summer, and on November 4th, baby Assad and the Mullahs break out in a cold sweat.
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-3-7 7:23:20 AM  

#6  i hope assad is constantly visiting his proctoligist because if bush wins in 2004 his asshole will be opening wider in fear than the tigris-euphrates valley
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI   2004-3-7 4:54:11 AM  

#5  Won't be the first guy to underestimate
W. Or the last.
Posted by: Mr. Davis   2004-3-7 1:45:56 AM  

#4  Bush is constantly on their minds..... Everytime any of 'em sit down to eat a meal....or go to bed....or take a shit, there's a thought in the back of their mind about how they are a target, and could be HIT at any moment.

I know if I were assad or any of those idiots, I'd be scared to death all the time. If they're wanted, and they're seen, they're dead! And they know it.
Posted by: Danny   2004-3-7 1:24:29 AM  

#3  Better yet: A 'Jurrasic Park' type theme park with tons of burned out T-72s, broken statues of maximum leaders, demonstrating the ultimate result of socialist policies. We could call it 'YerAss Sick Park.'
Posted by: badanov   2004-3-7 12:36:02 AM  

#2  OK, so because of the problems in Iraq, he doesn't think we'll be doing anything about the fact that they're causing the problems in Iraq?
Posted by: Phil Fraering   2004-3-7 12:34:51 AM  

#1  I think the Bekkaa Valley would be an excellent location for a Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and BJ's in the middle of a HUGE parking lot!
Posted by: Jack Deth   2004-3-7 12:15:32 AM  

00:00