Word: damascus
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...national security team: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser Jim Jones, Iran strategist Dennis Ross and special envoy George Mitchell all descended on the region, each with his own agenda. Among the initiatives in play were an attempt at diplomatic warming with the regime of Bashar Assad in Damascus, a push for renewed talks between Israel and the Palestinians backed by Arab neighbors, and stepped up military cooperation with U.S. allies in the region...
...Damascus Engaging Syria U.S. officials confirmed that the Obama Administration will attempt to mend frayed ties with Syria by appointing an ambassador to the pivotal Middle Eastern state after a four-year hiatus. Analysts say the gambit, which follows special envoy George Mitchell's visit to Syria earlier in June, is intended to soothe regional tensions and combat Iranian influence. The U.S. had withdrawn its ambassador after the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, a crime many suspected Syrian intelligence officials of orchestrating...
...Minister that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could "go to hell." He told TIME, "Even today, I'm ready to start talks with any country in our region. We agree with President Obama's approach to a regional settlement of historical disputes. I'm ready to take a jet to Damascus to meet President Bashir al-Assad." (Read "When Bibi Met Barack: Tough Talk on Middle East Peace...
...planning of the Iranian-backed truck-bombing attacks on the U.S. embassy in April 1983 and the Marine barracks in October of that same year. Mousavi, as my Lebanese contact reminded me, dealt directly with Imad Mughniyah, the man largely held responsible for both attacks. (Mughniyah was assassinated in Damascus last year.) The Lebanese said Mughniyah had told him over and over that he, Mughniyah, got along well with Mousavi and trusted him completely...
...Mousavi who appointed Iran's ambassador to Damascus, Ali Akbar Mohtashemi-pur, the Iranian caught red-handed planning the Marine-barracks bombing. Mohtashemi-pur also coordinated the hostage-taking in Lebanon. As a reward, Mousavi gave him the Interior Ministry, where Mohtashemi-pur went on to crack down on what was left of democracy in Iran...