Kerry: Syria leader wants to assist in Iraq

[rodeodance]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/12/20/kerry_syria_leader_wants_to_assist_in_iraq?mode=PF

Kerry: Syria leader wants to assist in Iraq

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | December 20, 2006

Senator John F. Kerry said Wednesday that President Bashar Assad of Syria expressed a willingness to work with the United States to bring stability to Iraq, and said Assad personally offered assistance that Kerry plans to convey to the Bush administration.

Kerry -- who visited Syria along with Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, despite the administration's opposition to the trip -- said the meeting with Assad reinforced the need to follow the Iraq Study Group's recommendation that the US government directly engage Syria and Iran to find a way forward in Iraq.

"He offered some very direct and concrete ways in which they could be helpful in Iraq," Kerry said in an interview conducted by telephone from Damascus. "I came away with a distinct feeling that there are opportunities here. There are fronts in which we can work together if people are inclined to."

Kerry said the Assad government is interested in approaching the Iraq war from a regional perspective, where other Middle East issues -- including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- are part of the equation. The Massachusetts Democrat said he would not publicly discuss the substance of his talks with Assad until he has fully briefed State Department officials about his visit...........

[babylonsister]

1. Well, doesn't this leave dimson and condi with egg on their faces. nt

[tridim]

2. It makes them look like they don't know what the hell they're doing

Which of course has been obvious from the start to anyone with a functioning brain.

Kerry and Dodd's flanking move is brilliant, it makes BushCo appear powerless. There's more to come I'm sure.

[blm]

28. I think you nailed it - Bush and his crew look like the incompetents they are, but

it will take more media attention to make more Americans even aware of what has gone down in this factfinding trip of Kerry and Dodd's.

Right now, the media is mostly pushing the RW angle questioning the patriotism of Kerry and Dodd. Typical.

[rodeodance]

5. Kerry and Dodd are out doing the grunt work Condi should be doing.

[madrchsod]

9. would you talk to condo or the real government

in the usa? after all kerry and dodd carry weight

[blm]

15. Pres. Assad considers Kerry a fair broker - this is the 3rd time he's met with him since Jan 05.

The leaders in that region do NOT TRUST a word from Bushboy.

[IndianaGreen]

3. AIPAC opposes the US talking to Syria and Iran

However, the Israeli cabinet did discuss talking to Syria, but stopped from doing so for fear of offending the US, according to published reports.

[IndyOp]

4. When Israel wants "X" and AIPAC wants "Y" and it is Israel's stability at stake..

then doesn't the choice seem simple? I am so tired of seeing how AIPAC diverges from what the Israeli people and Israeli government want and, yet, AIPAC is considered the voice of Israel. It is bull.

:(

[karynnj]

22. Not to mention that

AIPAC does not represent the majority of US Jews - an overwhelming majority of whom voted for Kerry, not Bush.

[rodeodance]

6. seems both are afraid of steeping on each others toesies.

[rollopollo]

7. Direct and concrete ways to help

Why wouldn't we want to take them up on this? Politics makes strange allies. We have partnered w/Pakistan- an authoritarian Muslim country with nuclear weapons which is run by a military general, and whose intelligence agency is funding the opposition in Afghanistan. So what if Syria isn't faultless. They are pursuing their interests while we are pursuing ours. I don't understand the audacity of this administration in thinking that every country should line up with American interests, even if its against their interests and the interests of their people, or face the consequences.

[babylonsister]

10. Diplomacy works, even with those we don't agree with. Too bad our

current admin doesn't appreciate, understand, or practice that.

[madrchsod]

8. his dad worked with the cia over certain mutual problems

the kid is`t a favorite of the new cia. that`s kin`a a simple explanation but pretty accurate. a lot of the cooperation was the mutual problems with the muslum brotherhood which dad went to war with in syria and saddam hussien.

[karynnj]

24. I'm not sure what you are saying because of

some of the typos - are you saying that the CIA likes Assad because his father helped them because he fought against Muslim brotherhood in Syria. (Aren't they also the group that asascinated Sadat and caused trouble in Eqypt.)

(I'm asking as it sounds like you know far more about Syria than I do (which is easy) )

[Morgana LaFey]

11. Kerry must not think much of the idea

Because surely he recognizes that any idea brought to Bush by HIM (or any Dem, really) is dead in the water. DEAD. D-E-A-D. No starter.

[MH1]

14. Well, it didn't look like Lieberman was going to do it.

Nor any Republican.

If Bush isn't going to do it regardless, then at least Dems can make sure the public sees what would be possible with intelligent leadership.

[blm]

16. Assad would only say this to Americans he trusts as HONEST BROKERS for that region.

And this is the third time he's spoken with Kerry about his ideas to help - what Bush, the Congress, and the American media do with this information tells alot about their commitment to an honest solution.

[karynnj]

19. Not true - If Bush finds it good for him he will take it

and insist that Kerry was speaking of something else. After all, the alternative energy ideas in the state of teh union were stolen from Kerry - then never pursued.

[seafan]

12. But, but, but.... "Syria in Bush's Cross Hairs" in Time magazine!

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1571751,00.html">Syria in Bush's Cross Hairs

By ADAM ZAGORIN/WASHINGTON
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006

The Bush Administration has been quietly nurturing individuals and parties opposed to the Syrian government in an effort to undermine the regime of President Bashar Assad. Parts of the scheme are outlined in a classified, two-page document that says that the U.S. already is "supporting regular meetings of internal and diaspora Syrian activists" in Europe. The document bluntly expresses the hope that "these meetings will facilitate a more coherent strategy and plan of actions for all anti-Assad activists."

NOoooo, we can't have ANY cooperation by Syria in trying to stabilize Iraq, damn it!

:sarcasm:


God, when will this disaster end?

[blm]

17. Bush refuses to hear that Assad has ideas for coopration in the region because

he never wanted doable solutions.

[dailykoff]

20. Funny how we never have a problem working out torture deals,

isn't it?

[dailykoff]

13. Diplomacy!

I shoulda thunka that!

[jazzjunkysue]

18. Thankyou, President Kerry. Report for duty. Make the chimp look stupid.

I love it. Maybe we can get John to do the whole job for the next 2 years. At this point, I bet * would love to let him.

[robcon]

21. Kerry isn't presidential material.

Carrying water for what Assad wants is a sign of delusion, IMO.

Syria's motivation is to weaken Iraq as a regional player.

[blm]

23. It's not a matter of carrying water for Assad, it's how to stabilize the ENTIRE REGION of

which Syria is a major player with alot to lose, as well, IF the region breaks out into an extended Civil War.

[karynnj]

25. Kerry acknowledged that Assad was not a good guy

before he even went to Syria. Read Dodd and Kerry's statement they emphasize that there are verifiable things Syria can do. Kerry is in no way saying they are good guys.

What do you support - PNAC like ideas of throwing Assad out of power too?

[blm]

27. I think it's more of the attack on Kerry's patriotism from the Hillary camp. They fear

the series f debates and hope Democrats can be propagandized to turn against Kerry as much as the GOP base does thanks to the corporate media and their paymasters.

[The Stranger]

26. Talking about delusion -- refusing to talk to other nations is delusional.

If it only rose to such a level.

[wisteria]

29. i am interested in hearing more of what he has to say about Assad and Syria.

I believe the US may actually be able to accomplish something if we can at least agree to begin an open dialog with Syria and Iran- even though we don't like or trust them. Both of these countries are involved in some capacity in Iraq right now, better to talk with them and bring it all out in the open.