(Washington Post) Editorial - The Bush administration rightly reacted quickly to a report by the UN that compellingly links the Syrian government to the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Hariri. By insisting on full Syrian cooperation with the ongoing investigation, the Security Council has a rare opportunity to enforce consequences for a state-sponsored act of political murder. No regime merits such action more than the government of Assad, who since the fall of Saddam Hussein has stood out as the most conspicuous sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East. In addition to brazen meddling in Iraq and in Lebanon, where bombings and assassinations linked to Damascus have continued in the months after Hariri's Feb. 14 slaying, Assad is a prime sponsor of terrorism against Israel. The Syrian sponsors of Hariri's murder must be identified and brought to justice; if that includes Assad and his relatives, so be it.
2005-10-24 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive