Status of Syria strike hearing unclear (House Reps Thursday)

[lovuian]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208179715131&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Despite an Israeli request, and amid heightened tensions with Syria, officials in Jerusalem said on Monday that it was still unclear whether US Congressional testimony on Israel's air strike against Syria last September would be held in public or behind closed doors.


The hearing, scheduled for Thursday at the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, will discuss US policy in the face of Iran's continued efforts to obtain nuclear capability.

According to the committee's current schedule, which appears on its Web site, the committee will hold an open session which will hear testimony from Daniel Glaser, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes in the Department of Treasury, and Jeffrey Feltman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs.

The attack took place on September 6 in northeastern Syria when, according to foreign reports, a number of Israeli Air Force fighter jets infiltrated northeastern Syria and bombed a nuclear facility that was being built there with North Korean assistance. Raising the issue at the hearing is seen in Israel as part of a congressional attempt to humiliate the Bush administration and prove that North Korea lied to the US when it claimed to have abandoned its nuclear activity.

The assessment in Israel is that full disclosure of the attack in an open congressional hearing could "embarrass" Syrian President Bashar Assad and force him to respond, possibly with military force.

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For those who don't remember the incident I documented it on video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AJW_hLM1pWI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jUUqa3YpHT0

Perhaps Carter will discuss that when he goes there

I'll be watching on Thursday my bet it will be closed doors

the Russians believe we help Israeli bomb Syria with our bombers... Written testimony could be tricky stuff

[bemildred]

1. This appears to be bullshit to me.

If you're willing to bomb Syria, I reckon you are willing to embarrass Syria too. I don't know what these weasels are up to, but it isn't a dispassionate search for truth.

[lovuian]

2. No its political and WHY NOW

its been quite awhile back

[bemildred]

3. Why now is a good question.

I would hazard a guess that it's to keep this "story" alive. It always was a very bullshitty story, nobody was willing to tell the truth about it. Why is the US congress "investigating" this anyway? Does it routinely investigate bombings in foreign countries? If so, there is a lot of work to be done in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example.

[lovuian]

4. no kidding LOL!!! Noone knows whether Bush is going to Bomb

Iran or not and I think this will be evidence of some sort to Congress that we can do it

[bemildred]

5. Maybe. That's at least a plausible purpose for this dog-and-pony show.

They do seem to be having trouble getting the war with Iran started.

[lovuian]

6. they do

which gives me hope