Clinton: U.S. to advance Syria ties despite reported Hezbollah Scud deal
U.S. Secretary of State says benefits of sending a U.S. ambassador to Damascus outweigh the costs.
By The Associated Press Tags: Syria Hillary Clinton Israel newsThe Obama administration is still committed to improving relations with Syria, despite "deeply disturbing" reports of its moves to aid the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in neighboring Lebanon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday.
Clinton, speaking at a news conference before the opening of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in this Baltic capital, said the administration has concluded that the benefits of sending a U.S. ambassador to Damascus - after a five-year absence - outweigh the costs.
She said the presence of an ambassador gives Washington a better insight into what is happening in Damascus.
"We have a long list of areas that we have discussed with the Syrians and we intend to continue pushing our concerns, and we think having an ambassador there adds to the ability to convey that message strongly and hopefully influence behavior in Syria," she said.
"The larger question as to what the United States will do with respect to Syria is one we've spent a lot of time considering and debating inside the administration," she said. "Where we are as of today is that we believe it is important to continue the process to return an ambassador; this is not some kind of reward for the Syrians and the actions they take that are deeply disturbing."
Some U.S. senators are threatening to hold up the confirmation of the administration's choice for U.S. ambassador to Syria - career diplomat Robert Ford - because of unconfirmed reports that Syria was transferring Scud missiles to the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Clinton did not confirm the reports. Without mentioning Scuds or Iran, which many believe is the source of the missiles, she described the situation in a way that strongly suggested that the U.S. does not believe Scuds have been transferred to Hezbollah yet.
Clinton referred to "these stories that do suggest there has been some transfer of weapons technology into Syria with the potential purpose of then later transferring it to Hezbollah inside Syria". Pressed to say whether she meant that the Scuds in Syria had originated in Iran, she replied, "I just said that we have expressed our concern about that."
Israel, which regards Hezbollah as a major threat, has accused Syria of providing the group with Scuds. A Scud has a far longer range and can carry a much bigger warhead than the rockets Hezbollah has used in the past, and could reach anywhere in Israel from Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon. Syria has denied the charge, as has Lebanon's Western-backed prime minister.
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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Israel: Scuds! Scuds! Clinton: Show me.... Israel: What? You don't know what a Scud is? Clinton: I know what they are, but I want to see your evidence. Israel: Who needs evidence? Scuds, I tell ya'! Scuuuuuuuuuuuuds!!!! Clinton: So, not so much with the evidence? Israel: Er, no....
rest is only a matter of time, while he is busy destroying the US from the inside. What were all those who voted him to power were thinking? I am talking about the Jews; the writing was on the wall and still they insisted - now we get the payback.
This is what America and the Obama /Clinton regime is all about, the same as of Bush and all of them they stand with Israel but at the same time they keep the Dictators and the Saudi king thriving ?They don?t want a solution? keep the conflicts going and no solution for this tragedy for both people
NO,it doesn't make sense at all.
between 9/11 and the Israeli Palestinian?" Pastor Wright anounced concerning that "Dirty Word, Israel" ... If my Rabbi has spoken in these terms about the Americans in Afghanistan or Iraq I'd have walked, pronto out the Synagogue. What did Obama do? He stayed. And what did he do when he met King Abdullah? He bowed.C'mon stop pretending he's something he's not.
After all, Israel is making peace moves by allowing pasta to enter Gaza. Bibi/Limburger will find any excuse to stall rapproachment with ANY country THEY don't approve of for President Obama. Salaam/Shalom
"Does this make too much sense for the childish parties involved?" No,nor would it make sense to anyone who's been to the Golan. But feel free to jibber away.
Dummies. Obama and clinton are like Chamberlain. Naive.
...at Obama...really unbelievable...
syria sends its terrorists to kill americans in iraq.so they need to be bought off.no point in buying israel off.america thinks it has leverage on us.
to surrender.
Netanyahu has all but destroyed Israel's relationship with the Obama administration. Having said that, US interests vis a vis the entire region can be forwarded by separating Syria from Iran. This can only be done by renewing relations with Assad. The world is bigger than Israel folks and US interests will always come first no matter who the president is (besides Bush).
Communication is always essential to working with friends and all others. The USA is on the right coarse. If peace comes to the Middle East, it will be through the efforts of Obama.
If Israel stays on their side of the border those scuds will never be fired. The Lebanese army weapons are defensive, you know Micheal, to protect their country.
If Assad wants peace he should offer full and immediate normalization of relations with israel in exchange for the peaceful return of the Golan Heights. From Israel`s point of view, that`s a deal worth taking and Syria has nothing to lose. Does this make too much sense for the childish parties involved?
AMEN you both have it right on ! What a DARK day in history ! With friends like that.. who needs enemies ?
With FRIENDS like this .. who needs enemies ? ISRAEL DON"T WORRY .. GOD WILL SHOW HIS GLORY IN & THROUGH YOU .. AGAINST YOUR 'FRIENDS' STAND STRONG O ISRAEL
USA blinks again. there is a full fledge effort now to avert war in the north at any cost and that means appeasing the other side. What else can one do? The rocket threat now can paralyse Israel for many months and there is no counter measure as the 2006 conflict demonstrated. It will be a protracted war of attrition and the international community can not stop it. Ben Gurion Airport will be under dayly rocket attack halting all commercial travel. Expect Syria / Hezbollah to further overstep so called red lines until Israel is forced to attack. That is the trap being set and Obama is trying desperately to avoid it from springing. It is agonising.
...Washington will get into the happenings in Damascus. That being clear, the US will now better understand what "disturbs" it. Then, it will explain all that to a Syrian diplomat right there in Damascus, not by telephone, not by video conference, nothing like that, but diplomat to diplomat. The whole world will be impressed by the depth to which America involves itself in the Middle East.
The message is tough and clear. You do what you want. Encourage war with Israel and support terrorism. Forbid basic human rites etc. We the "Americans" understand your need for this behavior and we will try and persuade you to stop your bad habits by sending you presents, giving you influence and rewarding you in any way we can. Osama says "Yes we can!" He just never says how!!
Scud hunting is not easy. Not even in the desert is it easy to find scuds. The least an ally could do is tell the US where to point the satellites. The Senators threatening to hold the Ambassadorial appointment hostage are the same that declared that Health care could be Obama's Waterloo. They have no interest in anything other than Obama and US failure in any and all things.
The results of this anti-American, anti Free World policy will be horrendous.
Tony Blair school of diplomacy, where did it get him? Where is he now?
Well, John, then write your President and demand he give rockets to: al Qaida, the Taliban, Mexican drug dealers. "La Raza", South and Central American rebels, Iraqi insurgents, Iran, Hugo Chavez, Sudan...and any other place that American Aggression needs to be curbed. For that matter, you should give your own guns over to any First Nations Americans you meet to curb your own aggression. When your own children come under fire from these groups, then we will all expect you to sit back and applaud their peace loving ways and right to attack you in your home for their self defense. I think you should take your foot out of your mouth before you try to either walk or chew.
Just two months ago the US sent a LOT of weapons to the Lebanese army over Israels strong protest. Now scuds to Hezbollah! Seems like the US wants Lebanon well prepared for the coming summer war. I guess they figure that if Israel pays a heavy price for their agression thay are more likely to want peace.
Even a dog understands if he get's fed everytime he does something, he'll continue to do that something. Every time Syria acts aggressive toward Israel or Lebanon, this President rewards them with additional incentives, including money, friendship and more anti-Israel attitude from him. What a piece of work this schmuck we have for a President is. An opportunity to prove to the world that he can handle the job and all he's done is get us closer to Islam and closer to loosing friends and further away from the concepts of morality, honor and commitment to the truth. The "late-great" us!
And whay not - they are two of a kind !
The U.S. needs Syria in order to achieve regional strategic objectives. A relatively minor matter like alleged Scuds will not stand in its way.