Syrian President Bashar Assad meets with US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry at the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus on Saturday (AP photo)US Sen. Kerry hopeful after Syria talks

By SAM F. GHATTAS – 2 hours ago

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Kerry said after talks with Syria’s president Saturday that there are possibilities for “real cooperation” between the two nations, which have been at odds for years.

Relations soured under the Bush administration, and Kerry and other members of Congress who have come to the Syrian capital in the last week explored the possibilities for better relations after President Barack Obama signaled he wanted to talk to opponents.

Kerry told a small group of reporters at the U.S. Embassy he was encouraged by the “very long, candid, open” discussion with President Bashar Assad Saturday and that he sees the possibility of progress ahead.

“While we will disagree on some issues for sure, what I heard and what I will take back with me and hopefully what we could put in place to take advantage of it, is the possibility of real cooperation on a number of different issues beginning immediately, beginning soon.”….

He did not elaborate, but the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee did say he heard from the Syrians “a great willingness” to share in efforts with respect to Iraq.

During a stop in Beirut on Wednesday, Kerry said the U.S. expected Syria to “change its behavior” — particularly on Iraq and Lebanon — in return for renewing diplomacy with Damascus.

Kerry said there is an opportunity with Obama in the White House and a Democratic-controlled Congress “to put in place a different approach.”

Assad told Kerry and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, whom he met with separately earlier in the day, that “the policy of dictation has proven useless and that dialogue is the only way” to solve problems, according to Syria’s official news agency, SANA…..

Syria’s ambassador to Washington described the congressional visits to Damascus as being “of extreme importance and depth.” But he stressed he was still waiting to see if the visits change “the manner of dialogue between us and America.”

“Let us see what are the goals we all want to reach, where we agree where we disagree … what are the easy and difficult obstacles, things that we can postpone until later,” Imad Mustapha told The Associated Press in Damascus. He said the U.S. was still re-evaluating its policy toward Syria.

Already during their trips to the Mideast, Kerry and Cardin repeated the previous American language demanding Damascus change its ways in terms of its ties to Iran and backing of militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian Hamas.

“We’re looking for actions, and we will have a good frank discussion about what those expectations are,” Kerry said during his stop in Beirut earlier this week.

Sateh Noureddine, the managing editor of Lebanon’s As-Safir newspaper that is supportive of Syria, said Kerry’s message indicated that optimism over budding U.S.-Syria relations was exaggerated.

The U.S. is seeking “a conditional dialogue, not openness,” and it is too early to tell its outcome, he said. “It is a step backward.”

U.S.-Syrian relations grew tense after Damascus staunchly opposed the 2003 U.S. invasion of neighboring Iraq. Relations soured further when the Bush administration pulled the U.S. ambassador out of Syria in 2005 to protest Syria’s suspected role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Damascus denied involvement in Hariri’s death, but in the uproar that followed, it was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, ending a 29-year military presence.

The United States also wants Syria to stop helping militants, control its borders with Iraq and Lebanon, and help stabilize Lebanon. Washington also would like Syria to step back from its close relations with Iran, a longtime ally.

But Syria refuses to stop backing the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah and insists it’s doing all it can to safeguard its long, porous border. It also says it’s willing to help stabilize Iraq….

Syrian political analyst Imad Shueibi was optimistic that U.S.-Syria relations would change from a period of “the wrestling of wills to the sharing of wills.”

“What is happening is not just checking the pulse,” he said of the Congressional visits. “It is an attempt to define the possible horizons in the relations ahead.”

Defence chiefs urge hawk Netanyahu to strike deal with Syria

Uzi Mahnaimi, February 22, 2009

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ISRAEL’S next prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will face an early test when he finally takes office in the next few weeks: should he ditch an election pledge and follow his defence chiefs’ strategic advice to explore a peace treaty with Syria?

During his campaign Netanyahu, the leader of the conservative Likud party, had struck a belligerent note and pledged he would never agree to Syria’s main demand that the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 war, should be returned.

On reaching office, however, Netanyahu will be presented with reports compiled by Mossad, the overseas spy agency, and by military intelligence, that strongly advocate opening negotiations with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.

According to sources familiar with the documents, both Amos Yadlin, the head of military intelligence, and Meir Dagan, his Mossad counterpart, recommend a deal not only to eliminate the risk of war with Syria but also to create a split between Damascus and Iran, Israel’s arch foe.

A United Nations report last week said Iran had accumulated a stockpile of more than one ton of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride at its nuclear facility in Natanz. If highly enriched this would be enough for a nuclear weapon.

The reports argue that Israel is vulnerable to Syria’s upgraded chemical weapons capability, which is being expanded with the help of North Korean experts. Satellite images that emerged last week showed new construction work at the heavily protected site of al-Safir…..
Aides close to Netanyahu say an agreement with Syria is the surest way for Netanyahu to make political progress with the new administration, as they profoundly disagree on other aspects of a Middle East peace deal….”

DJ Syrian Pres Tells Kerry US Should Stop ‘Dictating’ Policy 2009-02-21

DAMASCUS (AFP)–Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told visiting U.S. members of Congress on Saturday that the U.S. should “move away from a policy based on dictating decisions.” Assad’s guests on Saturday included U.S. Sen. John Kerry, who headed the third delegation this week to call on the Syrian president’s door as Washington reviews its policies toward countries the previous administration regarded as hostile.

Assad told his visitors that future relations should be based on a “proper understanding” by Washington of regional issues and on common interests, SANA news agency reported. Dialogue, based on the history of the region and the rights of its peoples, is the only way to understand and resolve problems,” he said.

U.S. summons Syrian ambassador over suspected nuclear activities
www.chinaview.cn 2009-02-21

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) — The State Department on Friday said it has asked Syria’s ambassador to the United States for a meeting next week after processed uranium particles were reportedly found in the country.

Ambassador Imad Moustapha will meet Jeffrey Feltman, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said.

Among U.S. concerns is Syria’s alleged pursuit of nuclear and non-conventional weapons.

A report issued Thursday by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its inspectors found uranium particles in samples taken from an alleged nuclear site in Syria that was bombed by Israel in 2007….

Netanyahu Says Iran Threatens Israel from Northern Border

Hawkish Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday named Iran as Israel’s main threat after accepting the task of forming a new government in the wake of the tight February 20 elections.

“Iran is seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon and constitutes the gravest threat to our existence since the war of independence,” he said at a ceremony at President Shimon Peres’ official residence.

“The terrorist forces of Iran threaten us from the north,” the presumptive prime minister said in reference to Lebanon and Syria.

“For decades, Israel has not faced such formidable challenges.

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“The responsibility we face is to achieve security for our country, peace with our neighbors and unity among us,” he said.(AFP)
Fox News: U.S. Officials Outraged at U.N. Over Hamas Letter to
2009-02-21 17:14:10.547 GMT

U.S. officials are furious with the United Nations for its role in Hamas’ attempt to enlist U.S. Sen John Kerry to transfer a letter from the Palestinian militant group to President Obama during Kerry’s trip to the Middle East, an official source told FOX News…..The Hamas official who wrote the letter confirmed to FOX News that he wrote Obama personally, asking him not to be biased toward Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians and to act fairly. He also said Hamas is ready to talk directly to a new American administration. …

The US has restored trust in the Lebanese Army after the events of May 2008 and Doha. Lebanon buys 225 million worth of out-of-service tanks and cobra helicopters from Jordan as part of US military aid package. Now it must service them and put them into operation in order to fit the Lebanese army to take on Hizbullah. (Thanks FLC). In Al Akhbar:

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U.S. to prod Syrian envoy on support of terrorism, suspected nuclear program
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

Ambassador Imad Moustapha is to meet with Jeffrey D. Feltman, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, at Feltman’s request, Duguid said. Clinton is not scheduled to participate.

“Our concerns include Syria’s support to terrorist groups and networks, Syria’s pursuit of nuclear and nonconventional weaponry, interference in Lebanon and a worsening human rights situation,” Duguid said.

—————-

And this is a Syrian response in Arabic (from Champress), but to summarize “if you want to talk to us this way then don’t waste your time and ours.

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Ross’ job, cont’d Ben Smith at Politico

A very interesting piece from CNN’s Elise Labott explains, in greater detail, what had become clear about the delay in laying out the administration’s Iran policy: They’re very concerned about the signal the rollout will send.

Ross’s new job in the State Department won’t be quite what many expected. Rather than being called an “Iran envoy,” Ross will have a title along the lines of Special Adviser to the Secretary of State dealing with Middle East issues.

Senior officials tell us the announcement will come early next week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton returns from Asia.

What’s the difference? The problem with the “envoy” title is expectations. It sets them too high.

Yes, Ross will be handling the Iran portfolio. But “envoy” is such a lofty title that it would suggest that Ross would talk with Iran, and visit Iran, and deal directly with this nation that the State Department has listed as the State Department lists Iran as the most active state sponsor of terrorism because its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were directly involved in the planning and support of terrorist acts.

During his campaign, President Obama faced plenty of criticism for saying he’d be willing to talk with Iran.

So Ross will have a more ambiguous title. It might sound smaller — or bigger, depending on how you look at it. But that doesn’t change his job.

The so-called “p5 plus one” — the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (US, UK, France, Russia and China) plus Germany — will continue to be the public face of engagement with Iran

But officials say Ross’s mission is to try to develop a back channel to the Iranians, with the aim of reaching solutions — and having talks — someday.

A test for the Israeli lobby – Ben Smith at Politico

The pro-Israel wing of Obama’s supporters has generally been pretty happy with the state of the administration, from Hillary’s appointment to Dennis Ross’ role with Iran. George Mitchell, by downplaying Israeli settlements and stressing Iran policy yesterday, won raves from hawkish Jewish leaders.

But former AIPAC Policy Director Steve Rosen sounded a more strident tone yesterday at Laura Rozen’s report of a new head for the National Intelligence Council, calling the reported choice of Chas Freeman “alarming.”

He disapprovingly quotes Freeman, the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, saying, “As long as the United States continues unconditionally to provide the subsidies and political protection that make the Israeli occupation and the high-handed and self-defeating policies it engenders possible, there is little, if any, reason to hope that anything resembling the former peace process can be resurrected” and decrying the consequences of “Israeli violence against Palestinians.”

It’s not the kind of high-profile appointment that would automatically provoke a broader reaction, so the decision of Jewish organizations whether or not to make a fuss will have a lot to do with how much good will (a lot) Obama has bought over the past two years.

Former Gitmo Guard Tells All
By Scott Horton

Army Private Brandon Neely served as a prison guard at Guantánamo in the first years the facility was in operation. With the Bush Administration, and thus the threat of retaliation against him, now gone, Neely decided to step forward and tell his story. “The stuff I did and the stuff I saw was just wrong,”…..

The Nelly account shows that health professionals are right in the thick of the torture and abuse of the prisoners—suggesting a systematic collapse of professional ethics driven by the Pentagon itself. He describes body searches undertaken for no legitimate security purpose, simply to sexually invade and humiliate the prisoners. This was a standardized Bush Administration tactic

Iraq Wants Progress on Energy Projects With Syria
Reuters, Friday February 20 2009
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS, Feb 20 (Reuters) – The Iraqi government plans to speed up multibillion dollar energy projects with Syria that would help end tension between the two neighbours, Iraq’s first ambassador to Syria in almost 30 years said on Friday.

The projects — an oil pipeline linking Kirkuk oilfield to a Mediterranean terminal and developing an Iraqi gas field near Syria — have been delayed, with Baghdad criticising Damascus for what it describes as insufficient cooperation on stopping rebel infiltration across the 600 km (375-mile) border.
“I expect substantial progress. What I heard directly from the leadership of my country is that Iraq is serious and ready to remove the obstacles standing in the way of these two strategic projects,” Ala al-Jawadi told Reuters.

Jawadi, a founder of the Shi’ite Supreme Council For the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, lived in Syria along with scores of exiled Iraqi opposition leaders during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

“I will not say more because these issues are better resolved away from the spotlight, but we will see major progress,” said Jawadi, who presented his credentials to President Bashar al-Assad this week.
Relations between Iraq and Syria plummeted after Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq in the late 1970s and Iraq launched an eight year war against Iran.

The two countries remained on poor terms after the U.S. invasion of Iraq removed Saddam from power in 2003, although the two sides re-opened embassies in each other’s capitals three years ago.
Syria was a major exporter to Iraq in the last years of Saddam Hussein’s rule. It also helped Iraq bust United Nations sanctions by importing crude oil through the pipeline, which was bombed by U.S. planes during the 2003 invasion.

HARD CURRENCY
Syria, whose oil output fell steadily to 379,000 barrels a day last year, has felt limited economic benefit since the invasion of Iraq and end of sanctions which contributed to the collapse of the Iraqi economy but helped neighbours thrive.

Damascus viewed joint energy projects as crucial — the oil pipeline would net Syria hard currency that would help offset its declining oil production — but Iraq made it clear that they must be accompanied by progress on the security issue.

Iraq invited Russia’s Stroytransgaz in 2007 to submit an offer to re-activate the 300,000 barrel per day Kirkuk-Banias oil export pipeline and raise its capacity but no follow-up was made, industry executives said.

Initial agreements also envisaged developing Iraq’s Akkas gas field and exporting output through an Arab network passing through Syria. Iraqi officials who visited Damascus last year urged Syrian officials to do more on security cooperation for the projects to move forward.

Akkas is one of eight oil and gas fields that Iraq opened to foreign firms to bid for last year. The Iraqi oil ministry said in January it was “preparing the requirements” for a gas pipeline from Akkas to Syria. Jawadi would not be drawn on the security issue, but said Iraq was looking to improve ties with Syria across the board.

“The intention is now sincere from the two countries to move relations where they should be. Economics ties are related to the overall political, social and security picture,” he said.
“We are not taking about a country thousands of kilometres from Iraq. We are talking about a neighbouring country where many of Iraq’s current leaders used to live and many Iraqis (refugees) still live under generous benefits.

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