White House wants closer ties with terrorist-friendly nation.

[Johnboy60]

DAMASCUS, Syria - The United States and Syria are exploring the possibility of a new era of better relations after years of tension - but questions remain over just how much common ground exists between the two.

A key sign that President Barack Obama is seeking better ties is the flurry of congressional delegations that have passed through Syria this week. Those were to be capped with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry scheduled to meet President Bashar Assad on Saturday.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=426078

 

[Kalevalatar]

The Bush administration outsourced US torture to torture-friendly Syria. What can possibly be "closer" than a partnership in crime?

 

[Daywolf]

This is no surprise, both parties seem bent on starting a major war in the middle-east. BO rubbing elbows with terrorists (signs of that during election), then Palin making it her aim to impose a two state solution upon Israel as top priority. Cant say which would have been best in either case, leads to the same. It’s amazing the world hasn’t just self-imploded yet. God’s mercy I guess, for now.
Thanks for the heads-up, Rob.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Syria would be a good proxy to fight a war with China.

 

[Micromini]

DAMASCUS, Syria - The United States and Syria are exploring the possibility of a new era of better relations after years of tension - but questions remain over just how much common ground exists between the two.

Why do you call Syria a terrorist-friendly nation ?

 

[Joachim]

Syria is a secular regime with a high level of religious tolerance and a politically active Christian upper-class. I would much rather be doing business with Damascus than Riyadh.

 

[Billnew]

This isn't news.
BHO said he would meet with Iran and Korean leaders.

I bleieve he is missing the best opportunity, making friends in our hemisphere, with an old regime, that could teach us how to prosper, when the biggest country near you totally ignores your business needs.
Cuba shold be the first place he looks at establishing diplomatic ties. Not friends, just not enemys. End the embargo.

 

[Autumnleaf]

This isn't news.
BHO said he would meet with Iran and Korean leaders.

I bleieve he is missing the best opportunity, making friends in our hemisphere, with an old regime, that could teach us how to prosper, when the biggest country near you totally ignores your business needs.
Cuba shold be the first place he looks at establishing diplomatic ties. Not friends, just not enemys. End the embargo.

If he approached Cuba he'd lose Florida in the next election. Its a nonstarter.

edit. Just heard on the radio US is looking to start trade with Cuba. FYI.

 

[namericanboy]

Syria is an interesting country which still has an unfulfilled prophecy of Damascus becoming a ruinous heap..Could easy see it be fulfilled in this day and time.

 

[bigbadwilf]

I thought OneNewSnow was on the "don't bother quoting from, because they're obviously loony" list?

I think that Syria were talking to the US government before GWB arrived, and following the death of Hafiz al-Assad (their president) in 2000, it was pretty much inevitable that it would take his successor (Bashar al-Assad) some time focussing on internal reforms (he insists that they are economic rather than political, although the effects are largely the same) before he started talking to other countries.
It's also worth pointing out that they chipped in the 6th largest (in terms of manpower) to the original coalition to liberate Kuwait, so while some pessimism is to be expected, some optimism could be justified.