SYRIA: Talk of a response to U.S. attack, an 'outrageous crime'

A spokesman for the Syrian Embassy in London called the U.S. attack within Syria on Sunday afternoon an "outrageous crime" and hinted at a reprisal.

"We expect a clarification, and of course Syria reserves the right to respond accordingly in the proper way," Jihad Makdissi told the BBC.

Reuters quoted the spokesman for the Iraqi government this morning as saying the raid was meant to target bad guys conducting operations against Iraqi forces. Ali Dabbagh said:

"The attacked area was the scene of activities of terrorist groups operating from Syria against Iraq. ... The latest of these groups ... killed 13 police recruits in an [Iraqi] border village. Iraq had asked Syria to hand over this group which uses Syria as a base for its terrorist activities."

Dabbagh said Iraq doesn't want the incident to damage relations with Syria, which recently agreed to send an ambassador to Baghdad for the first time in decades.

But there were indications that the raid could create geopolitical complications. For one thing, the operation could throw a wrench into U.S. and Iraqi efforts to pen an agreement that would legitimize the continued presence of American troops in Iraq.

"This is a flagrant violation of the new [security] agreement between Iraq and the U.S.," Syrian ministry of information spokeswoman Reem Haddad told Al Jazeera. "Because one of the points of that agreement is that they do not attack bordering countries."

The attack, which killed eight people , drew condemnation from U.S. friends as well as foes.

Staunch Syrian ally Iran, which holds enormous sway over the Baghdad government and opposes the U.S. troop presence in Iraq, condemned the U.S. operation. "We condemn any attack which leads to the killing of innocents and civilians," foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters in Tehran on Monday.

The pro-U.S. faction within the Lebanese government condemned the U.S. move. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused the U.S., which funds his military, of an "unacceptable" violation of Syrian sovereignty. "Any military attack against an Arab country or on a small country by a larger country is an act we reject," said a statement issued by his office.

More details emerged about the incident. Syrian television quoted a fisherman injured in the raid as saying heavy gunfire heralded the four helicopters' arrival.

"The firing lasted about 15 minutes, and when I tried to leave the area on my motorcycle, I was hit by a bullet in the right arm," the man, in his 40s, was quoted as saying.

Syrian television also showed what it described as the injured wife of the building's guard, in a hospital bed, saying that two helicopters landed while two remained in the air during the attack.

— Borzou Daragahi in Beirut and Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran

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Comments

[john in SD]

Yeah, sure,Marvenette..... so tell me, please, how this obvious continuation of "failed policy" is supposed to help McCain? Let's see, I'm critical of Bush and everything he does, McCain will do similar.... and now Bush does what he always does, and BAM! I'm votin' for McCain now!
Is this what is implied? Or is it that Syria's tough talk has me quakin' in my boots and I need someone to protect me?
Not a chance. I have cast iron balls, I'm STILL voting for Obama.
Partially because I shudder to think what will happen with four more years of part of America ruining everything a President does just to prove he is the worst President ever.

[Eric]

You'd have to be a political manipulater or a wacko to come to the conclusion Marvenette above has, based on the info provided in this report. Does any one use their brains any more? It is entirely possible and more likely that Iraq's spokesman Ali Dabbagh is telling the truth that Iraqi's were killed by people operating from Syria. How would you deal with murderers from across the border attacking your family and then hiding in a country that refuses to arrest those people, continues to allow them to operate, and possibly may even support them?

A more indepth investigation by this paper could reveal whether or not the aforementioned attacks against Iraq had actually occured, providing evidence to support Ali Dabbagh's claim. And notice that only comdenation of the action was written in this report, specifically by country's who are adverserial to the U.S. and what we are working for in Iraq. Where are the supporters? By leaving them out, it is assumed there are none.

Regardless of the intention, reports like this allow political manipulaters and wackos to lead lazy thinkers down the wrong path. Is this good for the country? If you want an honest world, be honest yourself. If you want a dishonest, corrupt, untrustworthy, conniving, and manipulating world, just continue as Marvenette and by default, this LA Times report have in this example.

[Mike H.]

Obama has already stated that he would be willing to cross borders in pursuit of known terrorists. Marvenette, how can you possibly twist this to be the fault of Republicans or a Republican plot? Read and think for yourself instead of buying all of the political sound bites.

[marvenette]

This attack on Syria is an attempt by the Bush Administration to inject foreign policy in the Presidential Campaign and help John McCain win the WH. Bush knows that John McCain will continue his failed policies if elected President. Therefore, Bush is willing to do everything he can to help John McCain become President and keep his party in power.