Kata-kata Don Bust...US escalates tensions with Syria
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Kata-kata Don Bust...US escalates tensions with Syria
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u ... 0218152357
Fri Feb 18,10:23 AM ET Politics - AFP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States heightened tensions with Syria, President George W. Bush (news - web sites) leading the way by saying Syria was "out of step" with changes in the Middle East.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said Washington favours using diplomatic pressure against Syria but has not ruled out a military option. A group of US senators called on the administration to tighten sanctions against the Damascus government.
Bush said the US relationship with Syria was deteriorating and that Washington wants an international investigation into the assassination on Monday of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
The Lebanese opposition has accused Syria of involvement but Bush did not say who the United States believed was responsible. He predicted more information on the attack would come out over the next week, when he is on a visit to Europe.
Syria has thousands of troops in Lebanon and Bush said Syria was lagging behind changes in the Middle East.
Questioned about the Hariri killing and relations with Syria, Bush told a press conference: "First we support the international investigation that will be going on to determine the killers of Mr Hariri.
"We've recalled our ambassador, which indicates that the relationship is not moving forward; that Syria is out of step with the progress being made in the greater Middle East; that democracy is on the move, and this is a country that isn't moving with the democratic movement."
He went on: "The idea is to continue to work with the world to remind Syria it's not in their interest to be isolated."
The United States has regularly criticized Syria for not doing enough to stop militants using Syrian territory to get into Iraq (news - web sites).
Bush called on the Syrian government to hand over supporters of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) who may be hiding in the country. "We expect them to find and turn over former Saddam regime supporters and send them back to Iraq," he said.
"We've made it very clear from the beginning of my administration that Syria should not use its territory to support international terrorist groups. We expect them to adhere to UN Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the removal of troops from Lebanon. And we expect them to help free and fair elections to take place in Lebanon."
Bush said he would use his trip to Europe to discuss ways "we can work together to convince the Syrians to make rational decisions."
The US ambassador, Margaret Scobey, was withdrawn on Wednesday. Secretary of State Rice said the United States favours diplomatic pressure to resolve differences with Syria but has not ruled out military force.
"The president always reserves his options," Rice told a Senate committee when asked about the possibility of an attack on Syria.
"However, in this case of Syria we believe that concerted international pressure ... can and should move the Syrians to act" on the UN resolution calling for their withdrawal from Lebanon, Rice said.
"We believe we have many, many diplomatic tools at our disposal here and although the president always keeps his options open we are employing those tools," she said, while sidestepping a question on whether the president would consult with Congress before launching any operation against Syria or Iran.
"I don't want to speculate on what the president might or might not need," the secretary of state said.
Democratic and Republican senators called on the White House to impose tighter sanctions against Syria.
In a letter, the lawmakers called on Bush to impose greater sanctions using the Syria and Lebanese Sovereignty Act of 2003.
"Neither the US nor our allies can afford to let Syria off the hook," the senators wrote. "Our message to the Syrians, and to the other undemocratic regimes in the region must be clear and direct: Terrorist activity will not be tolerated."
They added: "As long as Syria continues to occupy Lebanon and train suicide bombers, the region is not safe."
The signatories included Democrat Hillary Clinton (news - web sites).
Fri Feb 18,10:23 AM ET Politics - AFP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States heightened tensions with Syria, President George W. Bush (news - web sites) leading the way by saying Syria was "out of step" with changes in the Middle East.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said Washington favours using diplomatic pressure against Syria but has not ruled out a military option. A group of US senators called on the administration to tighten sanctions against the Damascus government.
Bush said the US relationship with Syria was deteriorating and that Washington wants an international investigation into the assassination on Monday of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
The Lebanese opposition has accused Syria of involvement but Bush did not say who the United States believed was responsible. He predicted more information on the attack would come out over the next week, when he is on a visit to Europe.
Syria has thousands of troops in Lebanon and Bush said Syria was lagging behind changes in the Middle East.
Questioned about the Hariri killing and relations with Syria, Bush told a press conference: "First we support the international investigation that will be going on to determine the killers of Mr Hariri.
"We've recalled our ambassador, which indicates that the relationship is not moving forward; that Syria is out of step with the progress being made in the greater Middle East; that democracy is on the move, and this is a country that isn't moving with the democratic movement."
He went on: "The idea is to continue to work with the world to remind Syria it's not in their interest to be isolated."
The United States has regularly criticized Syria for not doing enough to stop militants using Syrian territory to get into Iraq (news - web sites).
Bush called on the Syrian government to hand over supporters of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) who may be hiding in the country. "We expect them to find and turn over former Saddam regime supporters and send them back to Iraq," he said.
"We've made it very clear from the beginning of my administration that Syria should not use its territory to support international terrorist groups. We expect them to adhere to UN Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the removal of troops from Lebanon. And we expect them to help free and fair elections to take place in Lebanon."
Bush said he would use his trip to Europe to discuss ways "we can work together to convince the Syrians to make rational decisions."
The US ambassador, Margaret Scobey, was withdrawn on Wednesday. Secretary of State Rice said the United States favours diplomatic pressure to resolve differences with Syria but has not ruled out military force.
"The president always reserves his options," Rice told a Senate committee when asked about the possibility of an attack on Syria.
"However, in this case of Syria we believe that concerted international pressure ... can and should move the Syrians to act" on the UN resolution calling for their withdrawal from Lebanon, Rice said.
"We believe we have many, many diplomatic tools at our disposal here and although the president always keeps his options open we are employing those tools," she said, while sidestepping a question on whether the president would consult with Congress before launching any operation against Syria or Iran.
"I don't want to speculate on what the president might or might not need," the secretary of state said.
Democratic and Republican senators called on the White House to impose tighter sanctions against Syria.
In a letter, the lawmakers called on Bush to impose greater sanctions using the Syria and Lebanese Sovereignty Act of 2003.
"Neither the US nor our allies can afford to let Syria off the hook," the senators wrote. "Our message to the Syrians, and to the other undemocratic regimes in the region must be clear and direct: Terrorist activity will not be tolerated."
They added: "As long as Syria continues to occupy Lebanon and train suicide bombers, the region is not safe."
The signatories included Democrat Hillary Clinton (news - web sites).
