First US ambassador in 5 years arrives in Syria

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The first American ambassador to Syria since 2005 arrived in Damascus on Sunday at a time of regional turmoil and with Syrian-U.S. relations still mired in mutual distrust.

Few expect immediate changes, but having career diplomat Robert Ford in Damascus offers Washington a better glimpse into Syria at a time of rising tensions — particularly in neighboring Lebanon, where the Western-backed government collapsed last week.

"Intelligence sharing is the most promising overlap in U.S.-Syrian relations," said Joshua Landis, an American professor and Syria expert. He noted that like Washington, Syria's secular regime is against al-Qaida and "takfiri" Islamists, referring to an ideology that urges Sunni Muslims to kill anyone they consider an infidel.

President Barack Obama's administration has argued that returning an ambassador to Damascus would help persuade Syria to change its policies regarding Lebanon, Israel and Iraq and end its support for extremist groups.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110116/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_us_ambassador_4

[Knight Hawk]

1. Let us hope.............

The very first (and second) thing he tells the Syrians is to quit causing major problems in Lebanon.I really like the hard stance Hillary has taken on this issue lately.The Syrians are trouble makers and only understand firm treatment.They remind me of what Churchill said of the Germans,which I dont completely agree with but has some truth to it,"They are either under your boot or at your throat".

[karynnj]

2. I like that we have an Ambassador there

They have done many things that led them not to be trusted - and very little to gain them trust, but the fact ia that treating having an Ambassador as a reward makes not sense. It is in troubled countries that we most need Ambassadors. Here, credit should be given to John Kerry for having created an opening with Syria that allowed this to be possible and to President Obama for having the strength to recess appoint Ford.

While I think it would be silly to expect Syria to suddenly be a helpful ally (requiring an overnight change in their values, I think that there might be times, when something is in their interest, that an ambassador might be able to influence Syria in a productive direction.

[mitchtv]

3. that wouldn't be very diplomatic

nor would it gain any good will or cooperation. It would appear as if we were taking part in Isreal's designs for the region(Golan Heights, the main problem). Pehaps being an honest broker here, would be more in line with diplomacy. Whatta you going to do, send Dick Cheney after them?