Official: Syria-Iraq border security basic

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/breaking_news/11940105.htm

Official: Syria-Iraq border security basic

DONNA ABU-NASR

Associated Press


TANAF, Syria - Syria's security at its border with Iraq remains basic, relying on guards who lack night-vision equipment needed to stop militants crossing to fight U.S. forces in Iraq, a British defense official said Monday at this desert frontier post.

Syrian authorities gave journalists a rare tour of border areas Monday to tout improvements in security measures as U.S. forces on the other side waged the latest offensives against insurgents believed to have entered from Syria. Damascus is under intense pressure from Washington and Baghdad to tighten control of its porous border.

A giant picture of President Bashar Assad looked over a bleak desert landscape and several hundred trucks waited to cross at Tanaf, one of the main posts along the 360- mile frontier with Iraq.

Journalists were driven for 120 miles along the tall sand berm that the authorities have put down along the border to impede crossing.

<</SNIP>>

[ingabingabunga]

1. The Brits don't want them to see the U.S. Army coming...

Lots of activity at the border lately.

Maybe its getting close to invasion time again. Don't want Syria to actually "fix" the problem. Then there would be no justification for crossing the border into Syria while the soldiers were "chasing" insurgents.

The only goggles they will be seeing are on the helmets of U.S. Soldiers as they cross over those sand berms and into Syria.

Just a thought.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi ingabingabunga!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LynnTheDem]

2. America is the world's hyper-power, America should secure Iraq's border.

It's the required duty of the OCCUPIER to secure the borders of the country they've invaded, NOT the duty of everyone else to do so.

Can Canada now decide who can and who can't enter the USA? Or is it up to America to decide who can & who can't enter America?

It's AMERICA'S job to secure Iraq's borders. Stop blaming others for YOUR FAILURES, bush.

[Javaman]

3. Here's a security suggestion...

When I lived in a high crime neighborhood, I put old tin cans by the windows and front door.
Imagine if you will, millions upon millions of tin cans along the Syrian border.

Two soldiers in a fox hole in the middle of the night, somewhere along the Syrian border.

Grunt#1: did you he something??

Grunt#2: nope, I didn't hear any of the tin cans fall over, it's all good.

See, it's cheap and effective.

Holy crap! As long as we keep that area underfunded security-wise, it's our ace in the hole excuse to invade Syria at some point in the not to distant future. We bitch and moan over how Syria isn't doing enough to help stop terrorists from crossing over, but yet we don't give them a dime for new equipment. Yeah, some war on terror, huh? Keep stirring the pot.

[maxsolomon]

4. this was job 1

not the SA border, not the jordanian border, not the iranian border, not the turkish border. the syrian border. the state run by the BAATHIST DICTATOR.

who the F was planning this debacle anyway? have they read sun tzu?

we've squandered our blood & treasure, and in the end, it will be for nothing. it will not stabilize our oil supply, because oil will never be stable again.

[damntexdem]

6. Maybe they should send those Arizona militia guys to Iraq.

And maybe also send all of the INS staff along with them. After all, the U.S. has been so successful at controlling its border with Mexico. ;-(

[lovuian]

7. Syria Under Fire to Better Guard Border

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050620/ap_on_re_mi_ea/syria_iraqi_border

By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jun 20, 2:51 PM ET



TANAF, Syria - On a bleak hill overlooking Iraq, Syrian officials on Monday pointed out enlarged sand berms and other security measures they say they have taken to hinder foreign fighters from crossing the border.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Western diplomats maintain Syria could do more, saying the guards need better intelligence and better night-vision equipment to keep insurgents from slipping across after dark to join extremist groups like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida in Iraq.

Syrian President Bashar Assad is under intense pressure from Washington and Baghdad, which have charged in the past that the Syrians let militants cross the frontier. His government denies that, arguing it is impossible to seal the 360-mile border.

Syrian authorities gave journalists a rare tour of part of the frontier Monday to highlight improvements in security as U.S. Marines and Iraqi troops on the other side waged the latest offensive against insurgents believed to have entered from Syria.

A giant picture of Assad looks out over the desert at Tanaf, a main border crossing where several hundred trucks waited to cross into Iraq.

more...

You better guard it or we will and What Border are we talking about here the Sea???

[lastknowngood]

8. As we control the other side of that border why don't we secure it?

n/t

[dArKeR]

9. Why can't NeoCon America control one road in two years? The road to

the airport! Let alone the every city in the entire country is out of control! Why did Bush order the security of the oil fields and not the ammunition warehouses?

[dArKeR]

11. If Iraq had trees/forests/jungles American dead would be up to 60,000

with 150,000 amputee/blinded/wheel chair wounded. When will someone in America speak the truth?

[Eloriel]

10. Isn't this backwards?

Why would it be their responsibility to prevent people from leaving Syria?

Oh, I forgot: BECAUSE WE SAY SO.

[Gunit_Sangh]

12. Funny nbc news reported tonight that

55% of the suicide bombers in Iraq are from ..... Saudi Arabia.

Maybe Bandar Bush should work on guarding THEIR borders a bit more

[Igel]

15. There are two problems with that.

The Sa'udis do a better job with their borders ... not that they need to.

Because few people try to cross that way. You'd probably go from SA to Kuwait and up through Basra, or take the preferred route through Syria.

[mbperrin]

13. Hey! where are those Minutemen guys just when

you need them??!!

I'd sure rather have them there than here in Texas. (Sorry, Syria, just stock plenty o'chew and suds, and they'll probly behave all right.)

[Warren Stupidity]

14. Yeah secure your border so we can pacify Iraq so we can invade you. EOM

[daleo]

16. Maybe Syrians are longing for western-style freedom in Iraq

After all, the west never minded East Germans going over the wall from East Berlin to the west. If Syria improved its security wouldn't that just prove that it is imprisoning its people?:sarcasm: