War With Syria?

Ha'aretz reported yesterday that Baby Doc Assad said that he fears becoming the next target of the US-led coalition, adding "We will not wait until we become the next target", without being any more specific. Today Ha'aretz reports that

Syria is granting free passage across its border with Iraq to volunteers who wish to join the fight against the U.S. and British forces. Thus far, dozens of volunteers, primarily Palestinians from the refugee camps in Lebanon, have crossed over into Iraq through Syrian-controlled border posts.

The passage of volunteers with Damascus's consent has given rise to the theory that the U.S.-fired missile that struck a Syrian bus traveling in Iraq was an intentional attack on a busload of such volunteers.

furthermore

The Syrian mufti, Ahmed Kaftaru - a government official - recently called on Muslims worldwide to employ all means, including suicide operations, to defeat the American-British-Zionist aggression.

In today's press conference, still in progress as I write this, Donald Rumsfeld said that military equipment which can endanger the lives of coalition forces, including night vision goggles, is entering Iraq from Syria.

We consider such trafficking as hostile acts and will hold the Syrian government accountable for such shipments

Rumsfeld said.

UPDATE The AP has more on Rumsfeld's press briefing and his warning to Syria here:

There's no question but that to the extent that military supplies or equipment or people are moving across the borders between Iraq and Syria, it vastly complicates our situation," Rumsfeld said.

Asked if the United States was threatening military action against Syria, Rumsfeld said: "I'm saying exactly what I'm saying. It was carefully phrased."

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at March 28, 2003 11:25 AM