Any news on this?

Wow, I can't believe that Debka report was in May. Next most relevant thing I read about Syria was a Ha'aretz article claiming that they had 100 VX tipped SCUDs pointed at Israel. Since that, no news.

This got a lot of jazz on Fox news and msnbc the last week, with the idea that the US is jsut waiting for the right time to reveal and/or go in to "find" what was always there. Perhaps an October 2004 surprise, as Dean is barreling towards destruction? He's already alienated a lot of Jewish voters with his comments last week, and those voters are moving more and more towards the republicans. So dont rule out the surprise coming next year - UNLESS David Kay's upcoming report reveals this already when released. swhitebull

Update from debka 9/16/03: US disarmament official Bolton tells Congress administration has not substantiated “media reports” (reference to DEBKAfile’s exposure) of secret transfer of Iraq’s WMD to Syria but remains deeply concerned. DEBKAfile adds: Syria has shrugged off US inquiries on subject and Washington has not yet ordered ground search of Syria’s own WMD facilities or Lebanese Beqaa Valley where forbidden substances buried Senior US disarmament official Bolton accused Damascus of continuing to pursue chemical and biological weapons programs and supporting terrorism. Congress this week debates Syria Accountability Act that could open way to sanctions swhitebull

U.S.: Syria supporting terror groups, developing WMD By Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies Undersecretary of State John Bolton on Tuesday vehemently attacked Syria and said it was a rebellious country, like Iran, North Korea and Libya. Bolton told a congressional hearing that Syria is developing weapons of mass destruction and supporting terror organizations, and that the combination poses a serious threat to both U.S. and international security. Bolton said that the United States must keep open the option of using "every tool" - code for the remote possibility of military action - to dissuade Syria and others from pursuing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. While saying the United States had yet not found any information to substantiate media reports that Iraq might have transferred some of its suspected weapons of mass destruction to Syria, Bolton said Washington was concerned by the reports. Bolton added that Syria continues to support Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad - groups the United States considers terrorists - and that it is allowing militants to cross the border into Iraq. But Bolton asked the Congress committee members to be patient and allow Secretary of State Colin Powell time to bring about a change in Syria's behavior. Syria's foreign minister on Tuesday rejected the U.S. accusations and said his country was willing to meet "reasonable" U.S. demands within the framework of international legitimacy. Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa spoke at a press conference with European Commissioner for External Relations Christopher Patten, before the U.S. Congress opened the hearing on Syria. "This is not the first time in which the U.S. Congress makes an unjust accusation against Syria," Sharaa said. He said Syria, which opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, was ready to cooperate with America "if the U.S. demands are within the framework of international legitimacy, for the sake of Iraq's unity and in order to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict." Blaming Israel for his country's strained relations with the United States, Sharaa said, "I hope Congress would not adopt a deformed image about Syria which it receives from others."

Maskirovka anyone? We crank up the heat on Syria, then while everybody's attention is focused on Syria and a million or so Red Chinese massing on the DPRK border (9/16/03 orbat.com), we take Terhan? WATCH WHAT WE DO NOT WHAT WE SAY, CL

Depka is not the only source on this story and it wasn't the first. John Loftus (late of the Justice Dept., and who still holds very high level security clearances), whose sources are in CENTCOM and the CIA spoke about this at or around the time the war began, back on March 19.

Could be the reason Turkey did not want to get involved in Iraq - There are nasties next to my holiday resort!

More of Bolton - his testimony: http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=9915 swhitebull

http://debka.com/article.php?aid=745 >> DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources reveal that Washington and Dr. David Kay, senior US and coalition WMD hunter in Iraq - far from groping in the dark for Saddam’s prohibited weapons, as conventionally believed – have a very good idea of where they are hidden. The search has narrowed down to a section of the Syrian Desert known as Dayr Az-Zawr in Syria’s 600 sq. mile Al Jazirah province, which is wedged between the Turkish and Iraqi borders. The missing weapons systems are thought to be buried somewhere under these desert sands. This area is now probably the most keenly watched area on earth – from its outer periphery. At its eastern edge, US special force units, Predator drones and reconnaissance airplanes and satellites make sure no one steps into this ultra-sensitive patch of desert. Turkish special forces, intelligence and air force units are guarding it from the northwest. The Syrians are nowhere to be seen, acting as though the target-area does not concern them. DEBKAfile and DEBKA-Net-Weekly have consistently reported that Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction were removed from the country and secretly buried in Lebanon and northern Syria with the connivance of Syrian president Bashar Assad. << interesting... what happened to the Bekka Valley? which location was Debka wrong on? The issue of the Syrians being "nowhere to be seen" on their northwest border leads me to believe at least something is there... I also read something yesterday regarding testimony from members of the Iraqi Governing Council, who claimed there were many meetings between Assad and Saddam that took place on the syrian / iraqi border, and that materials were constantly moved around into Syria to thwart UN inspectors. I hope this story comes out soon..