U.S. woos Syria in 'candid' Damascus talks

"Bush had no reason for creating a diplomatic crisis with syria" ML One of the most important problems in the Mideast, is the centuries long division of islam; the Shiites & Sunnis ! A problem that will remain perminent for centuries after any peace between Israel & its Arab neighbors. Syria as a Sunni country breaks all the established religious traditions by its present alliance with the Shiites Iran. Something that created a serious crack in the Sunni unity. The U.S depends for a very high degree on the Sunni Arab Counties for its supply of oil. A very strategic point in the U.S diplomacy in the Mideast. Iran was never a friendly country with the U.S. since the fall of the Shah regime in Tehran . Syria closed relations with the Shiites Islamic Iran can be of serious danger in the stability of the Mideast. Bush was right & have a 'legitimate reason' to stand against Syria's policy & ambitions, in supporting Iran.

We, at the United States are discovering that our military presence in the Middle East makes our alliance with israel redundant. For us, Syria hold many keys. Such as Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. It would not be surprising that President Obama is coming to the comclusion that israel is more a liability than an asset these days. They present government is puting "road blocks" at every turn so as the U.S. administration fails, Netanyahu is playing the time card, thinking that President Obama is a one time president, hoping that the republicans will make it back to the white house, then isreal can have a field day and a carte blanche vis-a-vis the palestinian issue. Well, I think that Netanyahu is making the wrong bet and he will get burned politically. He is failing already, his team mates are disiastrous and he can not control them. I think the future for israel is not bright.

sorry pal, nice try...wishful thinking though... obamas outreach has achieved nothing, zero, nada, zilch. China has thumbed their nose at him, russia got the missiles removed from poland and czech with nothing tangible in return, the saudis turned him down on reciprocity he asked for in the peace quest(even after he bowed) and IRAN has consistently pissed in obamas face. His outreach has netted him nothing. The only thing it did achieve was a waste of a year where iran built more, hardened more, spun more, developed more... I fail to see what you see...maybe you can lend me your rose coloured glasses? obama may well be more articulate than george, but he is no match for him where it concerns true peace, and integrity iraq is free thanks to him and iraqis are quite happy about that..americans didn't kill iraqis, muslims killed muslims in iraq..iraq was the right move...unless obama really is an arabist, I dont think his neophyte gang of 'wet the pants' academics have a clue. Hey Lou, here's a good overview of the failure of obama's love-in...so much for the michelle and barry show...read on my fine feathered PINK friend...oh, and by the way, pearl, wolfowitz and feith understood this problem far better than rahmbo, brzezhinski, power and jones. http://www.gloria-center.org/gloria/2010/02/saudis-to-obama

sorry pal, nice try...wishful thinking though... obamas outreach has achieved nothing, zero, nada, zilch. China has thumbed their nose at him, russia got the missiles removed from poland and czech with nothing tangible in return, the saudis turned him down on reciprocity he asked for in the peace quest(even after he bowed) and IRAN has consistently pissed in obamas face. His outreach has netted him nothing. The only thing it did achieve was a waste of a year where iran built more, hardened more, spun more, developed more... I fail to see what you see...maybe you can lend me your rose coloured glasses? obama may well be more articulate than george, but he is no match for him where it concerns true peace, and integrity iraq is free thanks to him and iraqis are quite happy about that..americans didn't kill iraqis, muslims killed muslims in iraq..iraq was the right move...unless obama really is an arabist, I dont think his neophyte gang of 'wet the pants' academics have a clue. Hey Lou, here's a good overview of the failure of obama's love-in...so much for the michelle and barry show...read on my fine feathered PINK friend...oh, and by the way, pearl, wolfowitz and feith understood this problem far better than rahmbo, brzezhinski, power and jones. http://www.gloria-center.org/gloria/2010/02/saudis-to-obama

You may not be old enough, but I remember when our government was held hostage by the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Your Republican Senators are doing it now. Let your hostages go.

Like the old foes, German and France, Israel and Syria will live forever side by side. They can be friends, in the unknown future. For it happens, Israel must give back Golan Heights to Syria, and Syria must recognize the Jewish State. Is it easy? Yes, but mutual radicalism and resentment are obstacles. Think about it, my Hebrew brothers and sisters. A Brazilian Christian salutes you. Luiz Felipe Haddad.

Obama must be pretty clueless to think that a) Israel will concede the Kinneret as Assadim have requested, and b) that will change Syria's alliance with Iran. The adage that a wise man learns from the mistakes the fool keeps repeating.

Israel will get 3 problems solved with one treaty..a great deal. The Hamas and Hezbelloah will be hurted; Iran will lose some leverage and pupets; and a more quite relations with Northern neighbors. Sanctions did work here and the Syrians are ready to emerge and lean towards the "West."

President Obama(Prof. of Constitutional Law)and Michelle(Juris Doctor from Harvard)rely on their intellects to decide the veracity of their advisors. Dumbya was led by the nose(Wolfowitz,Perle,Feith..top dogs at the Pentagram.) Pres. Obama's outreach to Arabia, S. Africa, Latin America, Cuba, Russia, China, and Europe are showing positive results. Forget arrogance, he doesn't suffer from an inferiority complex. All this in a very short time. No matter how hasbara is used against him(still called the "N" word in Israel)he will endure. We are better off, as Americans, politically and economically than we were under the hick from Texas. God Bless this "Second Class" citizen who is leading the way to Justice. Salaam/Shalom

...then he will understand that Syria sees the return of the Golan as key to getting Syria's cooperation. Israel and America will play a "good cop, bad cop" routine to get what they want from Syria, but the price remains the same for both.

Diplomatic relationtions with Syria will benefit the U.S.A.

Yes, Mark. It was lunacy to break ties with the hereditary dictator who assassinated the Prime Minister of Lebanon. Yes, it was lunacy to break ties with the hereditary dictator who supported al-quaeda terrorists to murder US soldiers in Iraq as well as innocent civilians there. Yes, it was lunacy to break ties with the hereditary dictator developing nukes. Yes, it was lunacy to break ties with the hereditary dictator who funds terrorism around the region. Yes, it was lunacy to break ties with the hereditary dictator who brutally suppresses his on people. Yes, it was lunacy to break ties with the Alawite dictator who runs a MINORITY (your word!) regime in a Sunni country............. Hey, Mark Speak for yourself

The appointment is still subject to Senate ratification where minority rule is the rule of the Senate. Obama may have to pull a Bush and do a recess appointment or approve some several hundred billion in pork for some Republican Senator as a bribe to get the ability for a vote. Or he may have to go nuclear, and have minority rule deemed unconstitutional - a rule change.

Another Bush idiocy undone. Bush had no legitimate reason for creating a diplomatic crisis with Syria. It was a typical impulse of a prototypically irrational regime.