SYRIA: What's behind U.S. raid?

U.S. forces on Sunday afternoon apparently crossed the Iraqi border to launch a commando raid in a Syrian town that left at least eight people dead.

It was a high-stakes move that could not only increase tensions between Washington and Damascus but could unnerve Iraqi officials contemplating the signing of a Status of Forces Agreement with the U.S. that would legitamize the presence of American troops in Iraq.

So why now at the end of the Bush administration, with Washington trying to play nice with Damascus and tensions easing throughout the region, would U.S. forces stage such a gambit?

The blog-o-sphere was all abuzz with theories and speculation. Bill Roggio, writing at the Long War Journal, said that the U.S. must have had a compelling military reason for the attack, especially given the uptick of insurgent attacks in and around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which is close to Syria and has became a haven for insurgents.

Iraqi forces in northern Iraq launched a series of raids Sunday that netted 13 suspected insurgents, an official in Mosul said.

"The US military must have detected a senior member of al Qaeda in Iraq in the region," he wrote. "Abu Ayyub al Masri, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, is reported to have left the country earlier this year after the terror group lost its sanctuaries in Diyala province."

But others saw political considerations...

Political gossip site Wonkette somewhat playfully described the move as an "October Surprise" meant to change the course of the ongoing presidential elections.

"Finally, the October Surprise!" Wonkette's Ken Layne writes:

We have a war, of sorts, in Syria! Who knows why or anything. It’s the Kissinger Doctrine all over again: Just bomb..., everywhere, whenever you feel like it. Who’s gonna stop you, HEHNGHH?

Joshua Landis at Syria Comment says the attack "seems to fit into a broader pattern of the Bush administration initiating cross border attacks into countries that it is not officially at war with," including Pakistan.

He speculates that White House officials angry at Syria "may assume that [they] can have a 'freebie' " striking at an old adversary knowing that it will nonethless remain on its best behavior to impress the next U.S. administration.

Indeed, despite glimmers of rapprochement, the Bush administration has remained chilly toward Damascus, frowning at European, Turkish and Israeli diplomatic initiatives aimed at drawing Syria away from its main ally Iran, writes BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus.

"With the Bush administration on the way out, this US military incursion may represent something of a parting shot against the Syrians," he writes.

— Borzou Daragahi in Beirut

Photo: A handout file picture released on Nov. 23, 2004, by the U.S. Marines shows troops being picked up by a helicopter after conducting an operation near the Syrian border in western Iraq. Credit: AFP / Getty Images

P.S. Get news from the Middle East in your mailbox every day. The Los Angeles Times distributes a free daily newsletter with the latest headlines from the Middle East, as well as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can subscribe by logging in at the website here, clicking on the box for "L.A. Times updates" and then clicking on the "World: Mideast" box.

Comments

[meagain]

Funny how everyone jumps the gun before getting facts. MSNBC reporters reported that at the funeral, there were 7 adult bodies...no children. So can you really believe Syria when they say these were "innocent" civilians? Yea sure...like the innocent civilians that cross the border and pose as farmers, but then get rolled up with weapons, bombs, and cash. Please...

[kai]

This government knows no borders, not at home nor abroad. I am deeply ashamed.

[THEY WERE TOLD]

PRES bUSH TOLD ALL NATIONS THAT HARBORED TERRORISTS THAT THEY COULD BE/WOULD BE HIT IF THEY HARBOURED THE TERRORISTS, SO WHY IS EVERY ONE UPSET. THANK GOD FOR A PRES THAT BACKS HIS WORD UP

[me]

There have been raids like this before. This is nothing new. Quit trying to find a conspiracy theory to elections. This happened a few months ago as well...was it linked to Mardi Gras?

[Kipper]

Some people are saying... that George Bush is trying at the last minute to save his face and make a come-back from his low approval rating and global economic failures by killing Osama Bin Laden.
He is blindly putting the country at risk of starting a new war by authorizing (without Congressional approval) all the latest across the border(s) attacks.

[Melly]

@Mr. Jones
true, isnt an october surprise. The only thing I say is: "Executive Order 13338 of 2004"

[Mack Skiba]

I have a solution. If Syria wants to stop these sort of raids, then tighten up the border to stop terrrorists infiltrating Iraq. If your just going to turn a blind eye on the fact your country is being used as a luanching pad for attacks in Iraq then dont be so suprised when we take the matter into our own hands...

[democrats are spineless]

After living over 30 years in Lebanon, I can assure you that Syria could use a few more raids like this. In fact one on the presidential palace might not be such a bad Idea. Syria is single handedly responsible for thousands of Lebanes civilians lives, countless poliicians and leaders and dozens of foreigners. over the assad dynasty's history , more terrorism has emanated from damascus than osama bin laden could ever hope to dream up.

you pathetic obama supporters think you have discovered the moon in diplomacy. talking to syria and iran is like talking to a crocodile.

wake up retards

[Jon]

This is a pure politics step. Shift the public focus from falling economy to the foreign issue where McCain has(had?) the lead. It is supposed to bring points to the Republican party before the election.

[Nour]

This whole attack is completely bizarre. How the can U.S. violate a state's sovereignty and kill the said state's civilians - again?! The U.S. continues to undermine its own attempts at peace in the region (and by extension, the world) by commiting such acts. As an Arab American living in the Middle East, I beg those in charge of raids like these in the region to consider the repercussions of their military decisions. For all our sakes.

[Moise]

Mr. Bush you are a huge failure, killing innocent children, women and men wont change the truth.
The world will remember your presidency as and era of instability, dictatorship, lies, corruption, crimes agains humanity, ............ ect
we can't wait for you departure mr. Bush, good ridance.
You have ruined this new century!!!

[Larry Dummer]

If news stayed on the subject of the economic crash then Obama was bound to win the Nov election. Thus, a Bush sanctioned strike at Syria suddenly appears.

Watch the McSame camp. They will pull this into their campaigning efforts front and center by Monday morning.

Anymore questions?

[Fred]

So the LA Times really has no idea for the strike on Syrian terrorists. Is this blog entry done just to give childish blogs like wonkette some face time?

[dennis]

Is this Bush's nightmare October surprise? Has he gone off the deep end, having decided since he's outa there soon he'll just take a few random axes of evil down with him and let the next guy clean up the mess? Has his near total rejection by the American people made him cast caution to the wind? We've been debating what other tricks he might be able to pull before he leaves, especially if he thinks a Democrat will take his place. After miring us in war, trashing our environment, shattering our economy, there seemed little left, and we all started to breathe a little easier. But you gotta wonder about this towering mental midget with his god complex and dry-drunk demeanor.

I don't think it's ever wise to Forget About Bush while he still has power to create chaos. Every time I see a story like this, I wonder "Is this the one, the Page 9 mini-story that's actually a prelude to his next catastrophe?"

Bush has never been too good with this ultimate power thing. He only has a few months left, but he certainly bears watching. We can still impeach him, and I don't think that option should be arbitrarily dismissed, especially if he suddenly begins stirring up major trouble in major hot spots just before he leaves office. When you're talking about this man, such behavior is not a good sign.

[Jeff Griffin]

Good lord, our House impeached Bill Clinton for lying about an extramarital affair. Apparently war crimes are a lesser offense.

If anyone in Syria or elsewhere in the Middle East reads this, please forgive us, and know the American people are deeply, profoundly ashamed of our current "leaders".

[Realista]

Lead Attack Helicopter pilot was Mad dog Leader... McSame.... who will be back in Ohio campaging on Monday wearing hid flight suit.

Another wag the dog October Bush/Cheney "Surprise'

And An "Act of War" by Decider!

[Mr.Jones]

That region of Syria, like the tribal regions of Pakistan, is largely outside of control of the central government. As much as I dislike the G.W. Bush doctrine, this is no October surprise. It's a routine mission where tribal regions and geopoltical boundaries are fuzzy.

[Amilius]

There is no more ungracious a concept than 'acceptable collateral damage'. It invites instructive consequence with its use. You'd think this administration would have at least learned this over the course of the last seven years. This 'October Surprise' bodes ill for all, not just the perps.

[kajones]

IThe last 8 years has left me quite cynical. This is just too obvious and manipulative to be believed. A comando raid into Syria, no less! Eight people died. Enough! My vote is on the side of integrity. My vote is for Barack Obama and now it is completely against the Bush administration and McCain's slimy tactics. I am deeply offended and repulsed by this latest action and I hope the rest of you are, too.

Peoples' heads should roll for this action.

[Todd Elliot]

Arrogance and impunity. Gosh... I wonder where that's coming from?

[Adam]

This is bad news; can't wait till G Dub is out of office.

[Rob]

How would a Republican president with the worst approval rating help a Republican party that is at great risk of losing the election in a landslide. Why the old Republican standby, start a war, increase people's fears, use your power to get foreign policy back in the news. Pretty disgusting actions just to keep your party in power.