The US Mideast policy has resulted in attacks against US
missions abroad with the latest against the US Embassy in Damascus,
some Syrian analysts said on Tuesday.
"I'm not astonished when I heard about the attack against the US
embassy ... it happened after the United States undertakes a series
of unfair moves," lawmaker Mohamed Habash told reporters.
Habash said that when "extremists" intended to take measures to
"change the US policy in the Middle East, its embassies become the
first prey."
His view was echoed by former Syrian Information Minister Mahdi
Dakhlullah, who expressed hope that the United States "should
understand its unfair policy has brought turbulences in the
region."
"It also provides a pretext for terrorist groups to launch
terrorist operations against US interests in Arab countries," said
Dakhlullah, director of the Syrian Institution of Strategic
Studies.
Four gunmen attempted on Tuesday to blow up two explosive-laden
cars at the US Embassy in downtown Damascus, but such an attempt
was foiled by Syrian security forces in a clash, in which three of
the assailants were killed and the fourth injured. It was the
latest attack against US missions abroad.
In March, the US consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi was
attacked and a US diplomat and four other people were killed.
Washington, taking sides with the Jewish state in dealing with the
Arab-Israeli conflicts, has aroused distrust and anger in Arab
countries.
In the month-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict which ended in
mid-August, the United States refused to call for an early
ceasefire to end the conflict which killed over 1,200 people in
Lebanon and some 160 Israelis.
The Syrian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday accused the United
States of fueling extremism, terrorism and anti-US sentiment in the
Middle East.
"What has happened recently in Lebanon, the Palestinian
territories and Iraq is exacerbating the fight against global
terrorism. The US should take this opportunity to review its
policies in the Middle East and start looking at the root causes of
terrorism and broker a comprehensive peace in the Middle East," a
statement said.
Syrian anti-terror efforts expected to ease up tension
with US
Meanwhile, some analysts said that Syria's efforts to thwart the
Tuesday assault might lead to warming-up in its cold relations with
Washington.
"What happened today may bring some positive factors to
Syrian-US relations and will probably open the door for dialogue,"
Omeran Zaabi, a veteran political analyst, told Xinhua. US
officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, expressed
gratitude to Syria as the US Embassy in Damascus was unhurt in the
attack.
Syrian-US relations have been tense for many years as the two
countries are at odds on many issues, including Syria's role in
Lebanon and its support of militant groups in the region.
Washington recalled its ambassador to Syria following the
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in
February last year, blaming Damascus for the murder, a charge
denied by Syria.
"Damascus and Washington have common enemies -- terrorism and
extremism, so the two sides should coordinate and unite their
efforts to confront them," Zaabi said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)
