US to hit Syria with sanctions

[Herschel]

The US plans to impose sanctions on Syria in accordance with the Syria Accountability Act, US Secretary of State Colin Powell told a Senate panel on Thursday. During the hearing, Powell also placed the burden for moving peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the Palestinians.

Asked whether the US intends to begin implementation of the Syria Accountability Act sometime in the near future, Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "Yes. We're examining now what sections of the act we want to use."

That the administration has been reviewing which sanctions might be imposed within the next few months has been known in Washington.

But it was the first time a senior US official stated publicly that sanctions would definitely be imposed.

The president has the ability to waive sanctions if he deems it in US national security interests.

The act, signed in December by President George W. Bush, directs the president to ban US sales of weaponry and dual-use items – items that could be used for civilian or military purpose – unless Syria abandons its support for terrorism, removes its troops from Lebanon, stops the flow of terrorists into Iraq, and abandons its pursuit of nonconventional weapons.

cut

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1076559707378

Well done. Syria must fall in line or face consequences. It is also gratifying to see the Palestinians given the burden of moving peace negotiations.

[cornermouse]

1. Bush plans to invade Syria next?

Gee. Wonder where he plans to get soldiers to fight in yet another war.

[fleetus]

3. Maybe we have some troops already in the area.

This is starting to remind me too much of Risk.

:scared:

[Muddleoftheroad]

4. LOL

OK, that was funny. In that case, I want Australia. If you put troops on Siam, you can block that whole continent. The game is two dimensional, so there's only one way in.

My friends and I added all sorts of new rules including paratroopers and nukes.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bemildred]

5. This seems to be nothing but talk.

Since Syria is a member of the Axis of Evil, I wouldn't expect
we are selling them anything interesting in any case. If I had
to guess, I would guess that Colon is just trying to give the
esteemed senators the warm puppy feeling about his deep regard
for their activities.

[Darranar]

6. I think there is more to it than that...

Bush is getting much criticism from both sides of the fence for his refusal to go after the Saudi regime, and the fact that Iraq was a step backward in the "war on terrorism" is becoming more evident daily. This is likely an attempt to deflect such criticism.

[_Jumper_]

7. Good move, bad timing

Doing this a year after Ariel Sharon called on America to invade Syria will only fuel conspiracy theories that claim that the Iraq war was fought to protect Israel. This will lead to more terrorism.