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The Road to Damascus: Trading Spare Parts for Terrorists

[Washington Times] Editorial - Mideast envoy George Mitchell informed Syrian President Bashar Assad this week that the U.S. will help Syria obtain spare aircraft parts, information-technology systems and telecommunications equipment that had been limited under the 2003 Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. This policy takes engagement too far, too soon. The Syria Accountability Act lists 34 findings related to Syria's international misbehavior, including support for terror groups such as Hamas, Hizbullah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs, production of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, and development of biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction. In 2007 it was revealed that Syria cooperated with Iran and North Korea in operating an illegal nuclear facility probably related to the Iranian atomic weapons program. Israel destroyed the facility. More than 90% of foreign suicide bombers in Iraq arrived via Syria, and recently the network has surged. We await proof that rapprochement with Syria is possible.
2009-07-31 06:00:00
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