Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
Even if Washington is not ready to return its ambassador, there are steps both countries can take to reestablish a dialogue. First, our respective embassies can partake in more active outreach and public diplomacy. I do not mean confidence-building measures. When Syria fails to address concerns raised by our embassy, this needs to be articulated — over and over again.
Second, Congress can continue its engagement with the Assad regime and with Syrian civil society. These conversations will reinforce the State Department’s message, remind Damascus of steps it needs to take, highlight the plight of reformers and identify opportunities to improve relations.
Finally, the United States and Syria must resume the counterterrorism cooperation halted in 2005. The United States is aiding the Lebanese government’s fight against Fatah al-Islam, a group linked to al-Qaeda, in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. Many of the radical Fatah al-Islam fighters are not Palestinians, Syrians or Lebanese. Syria has fought Islamic extremists and still faces a threat from this spreading menace. Access the full article>>
