US warns Syria that 'our patience is running out'

[N1095A]

FX News Limited

http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/...fx2219227.html

09.12.2005, 02:48 PM

(Updates with quotes, detail)

WASHINGTON (AFX) - The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, fired a strong warning to Syria on Monday, as Washington accused the Damascus government of giving help to radical groups in Iraq.

'Our patience is running out with Syria,' Khalilzad told a press conference. When asked how the US could respond, he said 'all options are on the table', including military.

'I would not like to elaborate more, they should understand what I mean,' he added.

The US believes that Iraqi Sunnis are refusing to agree a proposed constitution because of threats from Sunni extremists who have infiltrated Iraq from Syria, where they have training camps, Khalilzad said.

'Syria has to decide what price it's willing to pay in making Iraq success difficult. And time is running out for Damascus to decide on this issue,' the ambassador warned.

'It simply must close the training camps,' he said. 'It should not allow youngsters misguided by Al-Qaeda, from Saudi Arabia, from Yemen, from North Africa, to fly into Damascus international airport.'

'It shouldn't be that hard, if you see young men between the ages of 18 and 28, who are coming without a return ticket, landing in Damascus airport to control that.'

(excerpted read more at above link)

[Guest]

Re: US warns Syria that 'our patience is running out'

Ah, Damascus I don't imagine it will be long. Although our budget is streched to the limit with Iraq, Katrina, etc.

[N1095A]

Re: US warns Syria that 'our patience is running out'

My fear is we'll be overwhelmed with committments. In some sense, Russia had grown so big in territory, that they didn't collect enough revenues to maintain control over those territories (of course, the communist boot only works for so long anyways).

But defensively we are stretched and our enemies know it. And economically as you mentioned. These are precarious moments. I'm trying to get out of debt, at least major debt because I'm very concerned. Let's hope I'm dead wrong on the economy. It would be to all of our benefit. By my estimates it will be tough in 18-24 months. Depends on how gas prices and interest rates go. I'm speculating, obviously. Not based on prophetical events, but what I see happening with local businesses, housing markets and jobs.