Syria: A Crossroads For Terrorism

(CBS)  For many extremists operating in the Middle East, there's one hub, one road where most paths cross: Damascus, Syria, where a diverse mix of terror organizations blacklisted by the United States government converge to find refuge and the support of President Bashar al-Assad.

There are more than 15 various extremist groups based in Damascus, ranging from the small, secular Palestinian-backed PFLP to both Sunni and Shiite Islamic fundamentalist groups.

There's Hezbollah, the largest and best-armed militia in the world. It's financed by Iran and supported and used by Syria as a proxy army inside Lebanon. Since last year's war with Israel, it's also been hailed as a legitimate resistance movement in the Arab and Muslim world.

The largest group based in Syria is Hamas, whose Islamist Green Revolution swept to power in Palestinian elections last year and then seized control of the Gaza Strip after ousting the Fatah forces in violent street battles.

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Complete Coverage: America In Iraq: The Road Ahead

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On Thursday, CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Katie Couric met with Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk, who once lived in the United States - where he has been indicted for terrorist financing and is listed as a "Specially Designated Terrorist" by the U.S. Treasury Department.

"Why do you think the Syrian government has offered such strong and public support of Hamas?" Couric asks.

"We're facing the same problem, the same enemy," Marzouk says.

"Israel?" asks Couric.

"Yes, of course, Israel

Marzouk now operates from Damascus, where he directs much of the group's activities inside the Palestinian territories.

For people like Marzouk, Damascus is a safe haven where extremist leaders are granted diplomatic immunity along with channels for arms smuggling, banking and logistical support. It's a place where the three allies in the struggle against Israel and America are everywhere on display.

But most threatening of all to the U.S. are the hundreds of al Qaeda foreign fighters recruited throughout the Arab world who travel to Damascus, where they are met and escorted across the Iraq border to become human bombs.

"Syria has played a decisive role in frustrating the American project in Iraq in helping the resistance and the insurgency in Iraq, in bleeding forces in Iraq," says Sarah Lawrence College professor Fawaz Gerges.

Charged with fueling extremist fires to the east in Iraq, to the west in Lebanon, and to the south in Israel, President Assad has become one of the region's greatest jugglers. But it is a game that has left him increasingly isolated and dependent on Iran - his one strategic ally in the region.

[euge005]

To bring the discussion back to the matter at hand, Israel, Syria and the failure of the moron in chief to make any effort to improve things. Hard to negotiate with a 90 IQ. Two years ago the Worthless one ensured 50 more years of terrorism and blood when he in effect approved the Israeli annexation of the west bank, or at least portons of it. It sent 30 years of diplomacy down the toilet. Sort of like telling the Texans he pretends to be one of that the US is giving the state back to Mexico. Which is about what he is doing I notice. Only the Jews are willing to fight for their nation. Now if only our forces were not sinking in the Baghdad quagmire, we could attack real terrorism, like Syria maybe. But I also note there is no oil in Syria and to explain the picture to the mentally challenged, understand that oil is what it is all about. Oil and his orders from the handlers that own him.

[j-whitman]

pwrslm,,,, Tell you what, when you figure out Iraq, & Isreal''s Zionst government & what the source of terrorism is, come back & we will listen to your logic on Syria ----- If you haven''t figured it out yet, bombing & waging agressive wars compounds the problems.

[pwrslm]

Fact is, Syria occupied Lybia by force for decades, then when they agreed to withdraw at the threat of retaliation from the UN, they killed the non-Syrian leadership that stepped up to take care of Lybia.

Syria has been undermining Lybia because of the Christains, but now that the Christian are all but gone and powerless, Assad is attacking the Nationalist Muslims.

Syria is tied in with Hezbollah, Fatah, and Hamas, all listed as terrorist organizations.

Only a naive idiot would listen to Assad claiming they dont support terrorists and agree with him.

[pwrslm]

Have a nice day, I''''ve got other things to do.... But I''''ll be back to combat ignorance, & our own radical fundimentalism that''''s hurting our country & excellating the probliems.
Posted by j-whitman at 02:00 PM : Sep 07, 2007

What, are you going to beat yourself up next? You must be that "legend" in your own mind. All you have brought here is illogic and halfwitted teenage replies.





f Syria is a Crossroad for terrorism,,, Then Iseral''''s Zionism must be the source.
Posted by j-whitman

Thats ignorant. You dont have a clue.



Lars,,,, Terrorist''''s arent Nazi''''s ---- They are Arabs ---- Thier radical fundimentalisism is fascism true enough & your''''s is aabsoultly no different.
Posted by j-whitman at 12:43 PM : Sep 07, 2007

Nazi''s allied with arab muslims everywhere they found them, the only facist left is your ignorant response.

[pwrslm]

Have a nice day, I''''ve got other things to do.... But I''''ll be back to combat ignorance, & our own radical fundimentalism that''''s hurting our country & excellating the probliems.
Posted by j-whitman at

Other things? Like spam BS 17 times on the other board? Your just silly. Nothing you have is worth reading actually, your just "excellating the problem".

[j-whitman]

Have a nice day, I''ve got other things to do.... But I''ll be back to combat ignorance, & our own radical fundimentalism that''s hurting our country & excellating the probliems.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,, So now we are Un-American again ??? ---- You have no concept of what American is.

[j-whitman]

jowand,,,, You have never listened to " Bashir "Melon Head" Assad" --- Have you ??? Your idiology & Party over country doesn''t permit it..
... FYI, Syria has arrested terrorists & have Supported Bush in his War on Terror...
.. But, they are not about to sing "Hail to the Fuhrer Bush" and agree with his limited understanding of the issue..
.. Yes, they have a border problem... So does every country in the world including us, especially us.

[notblue]

jwhitman, if actually fighting the Islamic terrorists increases terrorism then so be it, I for none am not ready to listen to the Imam spew his hate on a daily basis. Do you realize that with your anti-American, anti-Israel, pro terroist rhetoric you are giving the enemy the will needed to keep fighting, keep trying to kill innocents around the globe. It''s time you and yours join the adult world of reality and choose the side of justice and freedom ,not the side of Sharia law, barbarism, and oppression. The 6th century world of the radical militant is not my world, if it''s one you support head on over to the middle east and enjoy the good life. You are nothing more than a treasonous traiter and a hateful person.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, Do you realize you are increasing the terrorism problem by refusing to accept on of the major sources for it ??? ------ Isreal''s Zionist Government... Many Isreali Jews want stopped.