(Washington Post) The dire security conditions in Iraq have overshadowed many of the Bush administration's diplomatic priorities in Syria, prompting U.S. officials to focus their efforts on enlisting the Syrian government's help in stabilizing the country's eastern border with Iraq. A Sept. 11 meeting between Syrian President Bashar Assad and U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs William Burns was dominated by U.S. concerns over Syria's 450-mile border with Iraq, which Arab fighters easily cross on their way to fight American soldiers.
2004-09-20 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive