World Watch
March 2, 2009 8:04 AM

Clinton Shakes Syria's Hand

By
George Baghdadi
Topics
World Watch
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shook hands with her Syrian counterpart Monday as the two attended a conference in Egypt on rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

The simple handshake before lunch was the highest-level contact between the two countries in years.

(AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)
It was clear that the gesture had been arrangement, as Foreign Minister Walid Muallem (seen at left in a file photo) chose the first table in the banquet hall in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheik. He sat there and waited. Clinton seemed to head straight over to shake hands with him.

Muallem described his meeting with Clinton to CBS News as "short, but very pleasant," and that he was "happy it happened." He said he was "hoping this Administration would apply their words into deeds on the ground."

The pair of senior diplomats stood for a couple of minutes as Clinton introduced Muallem to her team, including George Mitchell, the new U.S. Mideast envoy — who excluded Damascus from his first trip to the region a couple weeks ago.

The handshake came after weeks of slowly-building diplomacy between the two nations — sparked by the change of power in Washington.

The United States withdrew its ambassador from Damascus after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and accused Syria of allowing Islamist fighters to infiltrate Iraq. Cooperation between Syria and Iran has also angered Washington.

In past weeks, several U.S. congressional delegations (most recently, one led by Sen. John Kerry) have visited Syria to try and find a path to renewed relations.

Many observers and analysts of the Middle East peace process (not to Mention Syrian leaders) have stressed the role Syria could play in reconciling Palestinian factions and facilitating negotiations with Israel.

Add a Comment See all 18 Comments
by rich1910 March 3, 2009 8:35 PM EST
Perhaps throwing a shoe at him would have been a better choice for some, especially given the Syrian record for supporting and sanctioning terrorism, but if a handshake can be construed as a benign gesture that eventually leads to more constructive diplomatic talks and a peaceful outcome in the region, than it would seem Secreatary of State Clinton is wearing her shoes exactly where they belong;on her feet.
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by labrat9999 March 2, 2009 7:22 PM EST
Ahh you Bushies just need to get over it. You're not going to turn on the news tonight and see blood and guts and our soldiers being killed for no reason. Smart people, I know a little difficult to understand, usually try to negotiate with people they disagree with first before they attack them. Not like the folks in the GOP that shot first and ask questions later. The correct response is ask questions first then shot. Kind of like what the GOP should have done before Iraq and 4250 US soldiers got killed, right?
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by fjinnw March 2, 2009 6:37 PM EST
Clinton kiss ***** everywhere.
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by platteman March 2, 2009 5:48 PM EST
What a Traditor. She must have some land to sell in Syria or Gaza.

Now she will negoate with terrorists!!
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by toolmangler-2009 March 2, 2009 4:51 PM EST
he really tricked the Americans into voting for him.
Posted by mariannpepit at 11:41 AM : Mar 2, 2009




You still don't get it, do you? Obama didn't 'trick' anybody into voting for him, Chavez could have run against the shrub and won (he just wasn't eligible) People voted a man and his party 'out' . Obama may fail (I doubt it though) but for better or worse 'He' is the President of the United States of America. Either help him or get out of the way and quit hurting us, Nobody is listening to you. and the country is at stake.
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by nolalou March 2, 2009 4:39 PM EST
If the media was correct when Obama was campaigning against McCain they showed a picture of a tall man with the words PLO over his head which is now Hamas and stated that he was at the house of Obama's for dinner several times. Now when the public seen that on TV why did they vote him in office. What is the matter with this young generation. Were they so smitten with him that they didn't take the time to read between the lines about him. I never went to college but I could read Obama like a book without the cover and knew that he was a slick tricker and he really tricked the Americans into voting for him.
Posted by mariannpepit

Oh, you can read Obama like a book? Well I can read you like a book too. The book of fools, idiots, and morons!
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by briannorwood March 2, 2009 4:38 PM EST
I did not vote for Hillary in the primary. I was an Obama supporter from the beginning. And I couldn't have imagined things turning out better.

Hillary is ABSOLUTELY in the exact place she should be, and I am proud of Barak Obama for choosing her for Secretary of State. After 8 long years of "cowboy diplomacy", her sharp intellect and obvious political skills will go far in bringing much needed intelligence to our foreign policy.
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by jdnoonan March 2, 2009 4:12 PM EST
Perhaps Secy. Clinton can use her new friendliness with the Syrians to get them to appear for the prosecution before the Hague Special Tribunal for Lebanon that began operations March 1. It was set up by the UN Security Council in 2007 to investigate the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri. All the suspects have political links to Syria. Of course, the court is taking special precautions against car bombs, so it is more suspicious than Clinton.
Reply to this comment
by mariannpepit March 2, 2009 2:41 PM EST
If the media was correct when Obama was campaigning against McCain they showed a picture of a tall man with the words PLO over his head which is now Hamas and stated that he was at the house of Obama's for dinner several times. Now when the public seen that on TV why did they vote him in office. What is the matter with this young generation. Were they so smitten with him that they didn't take the time to read between the lines about him. I never went to college but I could read Obama like a book without the cover and knew that he was a slick tricker and he really tricked the Americans into voting for him.
Reply to this comment
by mariannpepit March 2, 2009 2:30 PM EST
I believe that Hillary is trying to negotiate terms and peace with countries. That's what the secretary of state does. Obama should be meeting these people also however since he doesn't know foreign policy its better for him to stay in the white house. His appointments of Sebelius, Solis and Emanuel are jokes.
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