The USA has withdrawn its ambassador to Syria

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON - The United States has recalled its ambassador to Syria amid rising tensions over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon.

Before departing, U.S. Ambassador Margaret Scobey delivered a stern note, called a demarche in diplomatic parlance, to the Syrian government, said an official who discussed the situation only on grounds of anonymity.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, announcing the move, said it reflected the Bush administration's "profound outrage" over Hariri's assassination.

Boucher did not accuse Syria of being involved in the bombing Monday in Beirut. "I have been careful to say we do not know who committed the murder at this time," he said.


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050215/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_syria

[MadHound]

1. Well, Bushco has got to get its own to safety

Before we Shock & Awe Syrias' ass.

This is just sad, pathetic. We're using this crime, committed by people unknown, to ramp up the rhetoric and propel our military into Syria.

Just following the PNAC blueprint, aren't they.

[Bluebear]

2. So Iran isn't next. SYRIA AND IRAN are next! nt

[Pachamama]

7. Which one? Alphabetically or Strategery? Oil or Location?

Hmmmm....those busy little Neo-cons have some decisions to make....which one of them will be first? Or will they fake all of us out, hit both at once with the help of Israel or even hit someone else first and then go into Syria and Iran?

Wow, their poor little heads must be hurting..... :eyes:

My bet is on this - the US under the misguidance of this tyrannical "Freedom-spreading" maniac and Neo-con Puppet masters, will be invading one of these countries and possibly a third, within 6-9 months.....

Not that Iraq isn't a big enough blunder....the next one will be our downfall.....and the world's peace as well (as if things aren't fragile enough)....

[dmkinsey]

5. Does it seem possible that bushco did it

"committed by people unknown"
The administration wants a war with Syria.
Hariri, "our" guy gets blown up.
We accuse Syria, withdraw diplomats.
Voila, here come the war.

Who benefits from Hariri assassination?

[LunaC]

11. My initial reaction too

Hey, if you want to invade a country, you gotta' stage an Event. It worked with 911 and Afghanistan and the leap into Iraq, why change the M.O. now? Always remember the PNAC's Statement of Principles line....."It is important to shape circumstances....."

Anyone who hasn't already done so is encouraged to review "Rise of the Neocons" or PNAC 101 here:
http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/PNAC_101

[Djinn]

14. but the event generally has to resonate with the public

like the Gulf of Tonkin or 9/11 (regardless of whether you beleive the official stories of either) very few Americans will give a toss about this assasination.

[paineinthearse]

3. Here we go. Set material condition Zebra. Go to DEFCON level 4.

What was it Stewart said last week. Forgive me, I am paraphrasing, something like.

Take a drink every time you hear the phrase "symbolic Democrat protest vote" and you won't recognize the fact that President Jeb Bush has invaded Syria".......

[paineinthearse]

8. Stewart's prophetic words............

"Dr. Condoleeza Rice was confirmed as Secretary of State today by a vote of 85 to 13 despite a contentious but futile protest vote by Democrats. By the way, for a fun second-term drinking game, chug a beer every time you hear the phrase "contentious but futile protest vote by Democrats." By the time Jeb Bush is elected, you won't even notice the war in Syria."

Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, January 27, 2005

[cynatnite]

4. Foreign policy at work

I commented on this article earlier, but the post got kicked down. Anyway, Chirrac wants an international investigation, the US doesn't and isn't calling for one, but they want to go after the people responsible.

The US wants Syria to abide by UN resolutions even though we don't have to. :eyes:

[Old and In the Way]

6. If they don't know who committed the murder, why remove the ambassador

from Syria?

This is part of the strategy of moving the story....always let the opposition react to your last outrage while you move on to your next criminal act.

[peacetalksforall]

9. Can anyone educate me about the basics - who the assassinated

is to us, er... I mean to the cabal and who the assassinated were to the current administration and their opponents. I'm not getting it and don't hae time to read.

Is our admin sincerely outraged or is it more bs.

How sad that we can't believe anything from our admin our MSMs.

[kcass1954]

10. Let me make sure I understand this...

Someone is killed in Lebanon, so we yank out our ambassador to Syria. Presumably, they're next on the freedom road tour.

Is the the same logic that's being used to punish Judith Miller and Matt Cooper because Novak outed Plame?

I'm seeing a pattern here...


Edited for grammar.

[Vinca]

12. Hope the Syrians are stocking up on bottled water before

Dubya blows their asses into oblivion. He needs a diversion to get his social security plan passed and my guess is it's Syria. Is it possible to hate him any more??

[PresidentErnestTBass]

13. Bush may destroy Damascus to cause the Second Coming

Posted to DU already so wont paste it all here again.

Very scary thing to read.