Syria to US: Help in Iraq for Golan Heights

[Scurrilous]

Sunday Times reports Damascus expected to demand American help in securing return of Golan Heights from Israel as price of cooperation over Iraq; ‘Neither Iran nor Syria will do a favor for the US without wanting something back,’ Mideast expert says

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3329705,00.html

<snip>

"The Sunday Times reported that Syria is expected to demand American help in securing the return of the Golan Heights from Israel as the price of cooperation over Iraq.

Ayman Abdel Nour, a leading reformer in the ruling Ba’ath party, told the Times that Syrian President Bashar Assad wants America and Britain to use their influence with Israel to raise the return of the Golan Heights, seized by the Israelis in the 1967 war.

“It will be the top demand,” he was quoted by the newspaper as saying."

<snip>

"The New York Times recently reported that Former US Secretary of State James Baker, co-chairman of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group examining strategic options in Iraq, has met several times with Syrian officials to discuss cooperation with the United States.

Imad Mustafa, Syria’s ambassador to the US, told the newspaper in an interview that Baker has asked Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem during a meeting in New York in September: "What would it take Syria to help on Iraq?"

[ECH1969]

1. Fu*k you Assad

So you will stop letting suicide bombers into Iraq if the US pressures Israel into giving up what your daddy lost by attacking Israel?

[YankmeCrankme]

6. Actually...

Syria lost the Golan Heights when Israel attacked Syria in 1967. They briefly got it back when they attacked in 1973, but Israel retook it.

[IndianaGreen]

7. The world demands that Israel returns the lands taken in 1967

and we won't get anywhere in terms on getting a handle on terrorism for as long as US troops remain in Iraq, and Israel occupies Arab lands.

BTW, it was Israel who attacked Syria in 1967. He who strikes first, is the attacker.

[customerserviceguy]

2. Of course

Israel has to get something out of this, I suggest a peace treaty with Syria, monitored by UN observers, and they can have Johnathan Pollard back. That's probably why they haven't executed him, anyway. He's the ultimate bargaining chip.

[Eugene]

3. "The Syrians believe they are in a position of strength."

...from the original Sunday Times article.

Syria wants Golan in return for helping US
Hala Jaber and Sarah Baxter

SYRIA is to demand American help in securing the return of the Golan Heights
from Israel as the price of co-operation over Iraq. With the White House under
pressure to talk to its adversary, President Bashar al-Assad has resolved that
his assistance will not be cheap.

-snip-

Assad has ruled out co-operating with the Americans in return for the promise
of unspecified benefits. “The Syrian leadership is fed up with the Americans and
does not trust their word when it comes to future aid for Syria,” Abdel Nour said.

“Syria will not do anything unless it has secured guarantees from Washington and
London that every action Damascus takes to help them will be reciprocated. It will
be a step by step scenario: these actions for those actions,” he added. Assad also
insists that any help must be dependent on a timetable for US troop withdrawals,
a move resisted by President George W Bush.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2460033,00.html

Baker & Co. need to think fast and come up a counter offer that works.

[Eugene]

4. Reuters: Syrian foreign minister to talk to Iraqi leaders

Syrian foreign minister to talk to Iraqi leaders
19 Nov 2006 11:36:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

BAGHDAD, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Syria's foreign minister was due to fly to Baghdad
on Sunday for talks likely to focus on Iraqi and U.S. complaints that it is doing
too little to prevent Islamist fighters from crossing its border into Iraq.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry officials confirmed the visit by minister Walid al-Moualem.

It will be the first time a Syrian minister has visited Iraq since the U.S.-led
invasion in 2003 and comes amid increased talk of diplomatic efforts to involve
both Syria and Iran in finding a solution to the crisis in Iraq.

It is a rare visit by an Arab minister, since many Arab governments have been
wary of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led administration's close ties
to Washington and to non-Arab, Shi'ite Iran.

-snip-

The New York Times said on Saturday that Moualem had met former U.S.
Secretary of State James Baker, co-chairman of the bipartisan Iraq Study
Group examining strategic options in Iraq.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL935689.htm

[hadrons]

5. that would be a nice little kick to Israel and the U.S. ....

the neo-con fools who rushed into this invasion of Iraq thought they would be stealing, err gaining so much for Israel only to end up losing the Golan Heights

[LynnTheDem]

8. Sounds more than fair.

And then let's get America's children the fuck out of Iraq where they never should have been sent in the first place.