U.S. Withdraws Ambassador From Syria

Which of you good little history students can tell me the first thing that happens when we go to war with another country? That's right! We bring our ambassador home.

Barry Schweid from AP has the story.

The United States has recalled its ambassador to Syria amid rising tensions over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon.

Before departing, U.S. Ambassador Margaret Scobey delivered a stern note, called a demarche in diplomatic parlance, to the Syrian government, said an official who discussed the situation only on grounds of anonymity.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, announcing the move, said it reflected the Bush administration's "profound outrage" over Hariri's assassination.

Boucher did not accuse Syria of being involved in the bombing Monday in Beirut. "I have been careful to say we do not know who committed the murder at this time," he said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, apparently referring to the note Scobey delivered to the Syrian foreign ministry, said the United States has "made it clear to Syria that we expect Syria to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and the disbanding of militias,"

Also, McClellan said, "we also made it clear to Sryia that we want them to use their influence to prevent the kind of terrorist attack that took place yesterday from happening."

Blah blah blah. Let's put on our conspiracy thinking caps and entertain a few ideas, folks. Let's say, let's just say, that this bombing was conducted by US forces (not necessarily military). If so, this gives us the perfect cover of removing our diplomat under the cover of "you can't keep the area safe" and doesn't rise any other questions. Before the Syrians can even begin a thinking exercise such as this, SOF are operating within their borders in preparation for the fight by reconning out targets, conducting minor raids, etc.

Don't think such an idea is possible? Let me refer you to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield & God only knows what else.

Now, I had thought that I would have been commissioned by the time we went to Syria. I was kinda looking forward to starting my collection of sand from there, but I'm starting to think I might miss out on Syria (at least this time around).

May God's Protection rest upon the shoulders of our operators.

Crispy

Isa. 6:8