SYRIA: U.S. opens up to Damascus

Gee, I wonder why Israel does not trust Obama :)

Damascus has long been accused of waiting out the Bush administration in hopes of getting a better diplomatic atmosphere under a new American presidency. And indeed, since President Obama took over from Bush in January, the tide seems to be turning favorably for Syria.

Two delegations from the U.S. Congress have already visited Syria. Later this week, Sen. John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is expected in Damascus.

The U.S. is certainly sending positive messages to the country treated by the previous administration as an associate member of the “axis of evil,” along with such U.S. rivals as Iran and North Korea.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2009/02/syria-us-openin.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/17/syria-president-bashar-al-assad