Word: damascus
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Obama recently sent two senior officials to Damascus to test the waters, signaling Washington's willingness to end its campaign to isolate Syria. And early success on the Israel-Syria track would do wonders for the Administration's wider Middle East ambitions. Not only would it formally cement the 40-plus years of relative calm on the Israeli-Syrian frontier, it would potentially detach Syria from its alliance with Iran and enlist Damascus in moderating or eliminating two key radical elements - Hamas and Hizballah - on Israel's borders. Iran's resulting loss of influence in the region could, in turn...
...Gist: "This is a book about dismembered toes," Georgetown professor Peter Manseau writes by way of introduction. "But it is not a book about death." From Damascus to Jerusalem to Philadelphia (oddly, one of the relic capitals of the world), Manseau recounts his journey to find religious objects that have captivated the faithful for centuries and his encounters with modern pilgrims along the way. This includes a French mortician who analyzes the charred remains of Joan of Arc; a Sri Lankan tour guide who makes his living at the Temple of the Holy Tooth; a Syrian boy whose playground includes...
Syria's President Visits Israel DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Fresh on the heels of a regional summit in Doha, where President Bashar al-Assad reaffirmed his support for resistance against Israel while expressing reservations about the Arab Peace Initiative, the Syrian president dropped a bombshell by embarking on an epoch-making visit to Tel Aviv Wednesday morning. "Nobody saw this coming," said Mark Burnes, a State Department analyst who monitors Syrian affairs. "We knew that they were close to a deal, but the Israelis didn't tell us how close."... Official sources say that earlier that same morning, [Israeli Prime Minister...
...Israel never officially admits to carrying out overseas actions against its foes, but it is suspected of sending planes to destroy a Syrian nuclear facility in 2007, and it is also blamed for the Damascus car-bomb killing in February last year of Hizballah military commander Imad Mughniyeh. Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who will step down on Tuesday, hinted that Israel was behind the Sudan raid, saying, "We operate in many places near and far and carry out strikes in a manner that strengthens our deterrence...
...Outliers "If you really want to push the envelope, then how about Damascus or Tehran?" asks Hooper. "Now that would make an impression." Yes, but it would be seen as rewarding states that support terrorist groups, and there's no indication the White House is considering either city. Baghdad? Still too dangerous. Riyadh? Obama would be seen as being in the pocket of the Saudi royal family. Oman, Bahrain ... the list could...