IRAQ: Commando raid on Syria raises question of timing

The timing of the reported raid by U.S. special forces on a location in Syria raises an intriguing question.

The Syrian government pinpoints a spot about five miles or so away from the Iraqi community known as Al Qaim.

For five years the Marines used a massive railroad yard at Al Qaim as a major base on the Syrian border.

From there, the Marines and other U.S. military and civilian agencies could watch for insurgents sneaking into Iraq along desert smuggling trails that go back centuries.

Marine squads would fan out into the desert at night to  battle the smugglers. Marines reported artillery attacks launched from Syrian soil, which brought denials from the Syrian ambassador.

This month the Marines formally turned over the railroad yard to the Iraqis, as part of an overall pullback of U.S. forces in Anbar province. A Marine and Iraqi contingent visiting the base Oct. 13 found that it "housed nothing more than a small guard force, train cars rusting on the rails and empty buildings," according to a report in the American Forces Press Service.

No longer operational were the massive chow hall, the housing units, the intelligence-gathering apparatus, the state-of-the-art communications center, and the vehicle and helicopter maintenance facility.

Was the weekend raid a way for the U.S. to warn the insurgents, and their Syrian cohorts, that although the U.S. is retreating from the border, it is still on watch and able to strike?

Coming days may bring the answer. Or not.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Marines, Iraqi army officers, and Iraqi and U.S. civilian officers tour the now-abandoned Al Qaim base. Credit: Marine Corps

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Comments

[The Sanity Inspector]

Never complain, never explain, just get the job done and let the libs all howl.

[Bullwinkle]

The GOP will try anything to refocus America's attention off the poll numbers

[Just Me]

I don't trust the Bush Admistration either, but you guys are looking for unwarranted drama. This was strategic, and needed quite likely. Quit with the political intrigue. John McCain is going to lose now matter how you slice it. This isn't a last ditch effort by Bush to help the cause. You aren't in the field and have no idea what is going on. Go get some Starbucks and chill...the U.S. Military isn't Republican or Democrat. They are trying to get a job done. You do a major disservice to those who place their lives on the line.

[John Robertson]

Hilary Smith and DS may both be spot-on, but the timing still seems peculiar given that Condi Rice was recently making sort-of nice with the Syrian foreign minister at the UN, and Mr. Sarkozy (who would seem to be in the US's better graces these days) was making nice with Mr. Assad in Damascus. In fact, hasn't the hope been of late to split Assad from his alliance with Iran, even as the US tries to talk more of working together with Europe and others? Finally, is there any chance that Assad asked the US to act against what he sees as a salafist threat to his Alawi-backed regime?

[Y_Hosoi]

Thabet Salem, a political analyst, told al-Jazeera TV that the US appeared to have mistaken building workers for infiltrators. "It will raise questions as to why this is happening towards the end of the current US administration," he said.

Late last year the then US commander, General David Petraeus, praised Syria's cooperation in reducing violence in Iraq. But Syria has since refused to restart intelligence sharing with the US until Washington recognises its assistance by returning an ambassador to Damascus.

Joshua Landis, an American expert on Syria, commented last night: "The Bush administration must assume that an Obama victory will force Syria to behave nicely in order to win favour with the new administration. Thus White House analysts may assume that it can have a "freebee" - taking a bit of personal revenge on Syria without the US paying a price."

The attack comes as Syria takes another step in from the cold today when its foreign minister, Walid al-Mualim, visits London to hear praise for its newly conciliatory policies in Lebanon - and to be urged to distance itself from Iran.

[Eric Balcom]

This time the scare tatics of GOP will not work. Country has already moved on from the "Rovian" style politics. Economy and jobs is on everyone's mind and will determine the outcome of the elections. Obama has a edge when it comes to economy and health care therefore he will most likely win the elections.

[gmichaels]

Absolutely a ploy by this totally corrupt regime to once again "play the Fear Card" in this election. You can simply put nothing past this despicable horde of cowards...
Unfortunately far too many americans continue to fall for this stuff... Amazing

Think....Diebold

[Hilary Smith]

No, the Bush administration is using the attack on Syria as a ploy to raise questions about Obama's international relations capabilities.

[DS]

The timing was for the benefit for the Republicans.