May 1, 2005
MAKING THE BABY DANCE:
Damascus to resume ties with Iraq (BBC, 5/01/05)
Syria has announced it is restoring relations with Iraq, after a break of more than two decades. [...]The BBC's Richard Hamilton says that Damascus is coming under a lot of pressure at the moment.
He says it was international pressure that led to its withdrawal from Lebanon last week and now it seems likely that Syria has been encouraged to co-operate with the new government in Iraq.
Washington and Baghdad have consistently accused Damascus of fomenting unrest in Iraq.
Syria tightened its border controls after allegations that militants were crossing over into Iraq.
In February, Damascus handed over a most wanted half-brother of Saddam Hussein, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikriti, despite earlier denials that people like him were operating on its soil.
It can't be easy to maintain a terror state when you're an international laughingstock. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 1, 2005 7:10 AM
The Assads always were interested in their hide first and foremost. Almost a little disappointing that they're caving, really. Increases the chance that that regime will be able to survive for longer.
Posted by: John Thacker at May 1, 2005 11:36 AMI don't know about that, John. In the past, it has seemed that when a regime fails to act in its typical brutal manner, it is a tipping point, as the people realize it is not as powerful as they thought.
Posted by: jd watson at May 1, 2005 1:04 PMThey are still funneling money to Hamas and the PFLP to commit terror in Israel. As long as they continue to kill Jews they will maintain their support among their Muslim constituency and the European foreign services and journos.
Posted by: bart at May 1, 2005 4:19 PMHamas is an ally too.
Posted by: oj at May 1, 2005 4:53 PMOf whom? Not Israel and not the US.
Posted by: bart at May 1, 2005 5:38 PMYes, both.
Posted by: oj at May 1, 2005 6:54 PM