Pressure grows on Bush to soften approach to Syria/ FT

[TexasLawyer]

Pressure grows on Bush to soften approach to Syria

By Middle East Editor

Published: October 24 2006 03:00 | Last updated: October 24 2006 03:00

The Bush administration is coming under pressure to soften US policy towards Syria, amid growing domestic discontent over Iraq.

But while the administration may be forced to bring Syria into discussions over Iraq's future, a change of policy leading to a broader engagement with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, or to the promotion of Syrian-Israeli peace, is being ruled out.

The debate over Syria has been fuelled by the Iraq Study Group, which was set up by Congress to look at policy choices in Iraq and led by James Baker, the former secretary of state. Political analysts expect it will call for a regional contact group that includes Syria and Iran.

The Iraq Study Group has met Walid Muallem, Syria's foreign minister, and Mr Baker has stated that for the US to talk to its enemies would not constitute appeasement.

<snip>

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4d0c07ee-62fd-11db-8faa-0000779e2340.html

[bemildred]

1. The US could have had all this 3 years ago.

On favorable terms. Now the position is much weaker. Assad can afford to wait, the US cannot.