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Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.syria28dec28,0,369297.story
Syria Poised to Assert Itself
[Baltimore Sun] Seth Wikas - Although Bashar Assad does not possess the same state-building skills as his father, the American quagmire in Iraq, Syria's strong ties to rising power Iran, and Damascus' support of Palestinian terrorist groups have all recently converged to offer Assad his first real opportunity to manipulate Middle Eastern affairs on a grand scale. Syria still plays a dominant role in Palestinian politics. With Hamas leader Khaled Meshal ensconced in Damascus, Assad is a welcoming host, allowing his guest to be the main arbiter in the formation of any viable Palestinian government. Damascus - with its influence over Hamas and Hizballah - continues to be the key to the settlement of a lasting peace between Israel and its neighbors and the formation of a Palestinian state. The writer is a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.