Is the Democrat promoted Syria bill only about Israel protectionism?

[DennisReveni]

I have been bitching about the idiot Democrats and their Syria bill since I first read about it. It plays right into Bishco's imperialistic hands.
Now we see this happening,
http://tompaine.com/blog.cfm/ID/9942
"CIA In Syria? link
What's happening in Syria has all the hallmarks of a classic, 1950s-era, Cold War-style CIA coup d'etat scheme.
First, on March 7 a gaggle of demonstrators—no more than 20 to 30, according to The New York Times on March 8—was squelched by Syrian police, who arrested not only the demonstrators but swooped up a "junior diplomat from the American Embassy," says the Times. "The United States government protested the detention of the American diplomat to the Syrian government, a spokesman for the embassy told The Associated Press." Now the question is: what was a "junior diplomat" from the United States doing there in the first place. Could he have been from the CIA? (Syria is wondering the same thing.)
Second, the Bush administration is going to announce sanctions against Syria this week, thanks to a law passed by Congress demanding them. On March 12, The Washington Post reported:
The new law has two key parts. First, it requires the administration to ban the export of any dual-use goods that could be channeled into the production of weapons of mass destruction. Some exemptions will be made for products that might be included, such as communications gear, congressional sources said.
Second, the act requires the administration to pick two of six punitive measures. The White House has indicated to congressional officials that it is leaning toward picking more than two. The main new sanctions will be economic, such as banning U.S. exports to Syria except for humanitarian goods such as food and medicine, congressional and administration officials said. Washington may also block financial transactions by Damascus.
In addition, the administration is expected to prohibit aircraft owned or operated by Syria from flying to the United States or using American airspace, a token measure since no Syrian planes fly anywhere near the United States, U.S. officials said.
The most problematic and debated step proposed by the act calls for banning U.S. businesses from investing or operating in Syria, congressional and administration officials said. U.S. oil companies, including ConocoPhillips Co. and Devon Energy Corp., have business interests in Syria.
And finally, on March 14 The New York Times gave prominent coverage to Kurdish riots in northeastern Syria, which spread to Damascus. Jalal Talabani, the longtime asset of U.S. and Israeli intelligence, now a leading force in Iraq's new make-believe government, has close ties to Syrian Kurds, and it strains credulity to think that the Kurdish unrest in Syria is spontaneous. Reports the Times:
Unrest set off by Kurdish demonstrators demanding minority rights spread across northeastern Syria on Saturday, with Kurdish leaders saying up to 15 people were killed and scores wounded over two days as the riot police put down the rare protests with gunfire.
The unrest spread to Damascus, where several hundred riot officers wearing helmets and bearing plastic shields were stationed around Damascus University and in a predominately Kurdish suburb. Students and Kurdish residents of the suburb had staged sit-ins to protest events in the north, human rights activists said.
Syrian Kurds, inspired by the changes next door in Iraq—where the Kurds are seeking to enshrine their distinct identity in a new constitution—have become increasingly vocal in demanding minority rights. The government suspects them of seeking autonomy or even trying to break away to join Iraqi Kurdistan.
So here we are in the 21st century, and it looks like the CIA is still at it, overthrowing governments it doesn't like. I'd call for a congressional inquiry, but Congress is in this up to its collective, Gucci-tied neck."

So are Democrats serving two masters like the PNAC crowd does?

[eissa]

1. It's their lame attempt

at saying "Look, we can be tough, too!" I HATE this bill. I have family that suffered through those cruel sanctions in Iraq, and I cannot bear the thought that my husband's family in Syria will suffer the same fate.

And that riot in Syria was not soccer-related. The Kurds have been used to our advantage in Iraq, and they are now doing the same in Syria.

[ewagner]

2. Much to digest here

but one thing does come to mind immediately.

A push for Kurdish Independence or even discontent among Kurdish minorities in both Syria and Turkey was always a feared outcome of the defeat of Saddam. It's possible that it is coming to pass and, without doubt, there are those in Iraq who might be instigating it.

I'll have to dwell a bit on the other points.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Just one master: greed