Nicolas Sarkozy — L’Americain — continues to show more courage in his little pinky than the Democratic Party combined when it comes to the War on Terrorism. L’Intifada sent a message to Sarkozy and the people who elected him president of France.After meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Sarkozy cut off diplomatic relations with the Syria over Syrian interference in Lebanon.
(via memeorandum)
Alas, it’s not only Democrats.
Daled Amos
It would be a shame if Specter went to Syria to talk only about Israel, and not address Syria’s share in the murder of US troops:Syria’s Baathist regime provides a base of operations for its Iraqi Baathist comrades involved in the Sunni insurgency. Suicide bombers from Saudi Arabia and North Africa arrive by plane in Damascus, and, with the help of facilitators, some 50 to 80 cross into Iraq each month. The Syrians say they lack the ability to stop them; what they lack is the intention.
Just what was Specter doing in Syria anyway?
Contentions.Emanuele Ottolenghi
Given this realization, it strikes me as odd that, at the very same time that Sarkozy told the Syrians off, a bipartisan congressional delegation emerged from a two-day visit to Damascus exuding optimism about peace and calling on “George W. Bush to be forthcoming in his dealings with Syria.†Republican Senator Arlen Specter and Democratic Congressman Patrick Kennedy spent only two days talking with Syrian oficials. France has spent a little longer monitoring their deeds. After so many years of wrongdoing, perhaps it’s time itinerant U.S. officials stop giving a free pass to one of the most radical state sponsors of terrorism in the region, whose role in every crisis in the area runs contrary to the interests and the values of the U.S.
The relevant question isn’t whether Israel gave approval, but whether the Bush administration gave approval. If Specter and Kennedy are conducting their own foreign policy in meeting with Syria, they ought to stop. If the administration sent these two, then it’s hard but not impossible to imagine fielding a less stellar team.
Just in time for the stellar Specter-Kennedy team that’s in Damascus to make peace. Because why not: A Syrian criminal court on Monday convicted a political activist of insulting the regime and contacting ”hostile parties,” and sentenced him to one and a half years in prison, a human rights group said. Faiq al-Mir’, a member of the outlawed Syrian Democratic People Party was arrested in December 2006 after visiting Lebanon to offer condolences to the family of assassinated Lebanese politician George Hawi, a critic of Syria’s role in the neighboring country.
We’re doing such a great job in the Middle East. A totally, totally awesome job. Everything is under control.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
