Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has lumped Syria in the so-called axis
of evil designated by the administration. The axis is comprised of Iran,
Iraq and North Korea. Rumsfeld has also termed Libya as a leading threat to
the United States.
The State Department, on the other hand, sees Syria as a
stabilizing force in Lebanon and an important player in Middle East peace
efforts.
"We know that countries like Iraq and Iran and Syria and Libya and North
Korea are developing weapons of mass destruction," Rumsfeld said. "We also
know that those countries have relationships with terrorist networks."
Over the weekend, Syrian Vice President Mohammed Zuheir Masharqa
returned to Damascus from talks in China and North Korea, Middle East Newsline reported. Both countries are
said to be helping Syria's missile and WMD programs.
The Pentagon regards Syria as a terrorist sponsor and an emerging missile and
weapons of mass destruction producer.
In contrast, the State Department has encouraged U.S. relations with
Syria. Secretary of State Colin Powell held talks earlier this month with
Syrian leaders and officials said Damascus has taken limited steps to help
the U.S.-led war against terrorism.
Rumsfeld, who termed the above nations as rogue states, said Syria has
followed Iraq in WMD programs. The defense secretary said this has included
the development of Syrian biological weapons and interest in nuclear
warheads.
"We know that their [Iraqi] nuclear scientists have been kept together
and we know that they have an active appetite for biological weapons,"
Rumsfeld said. "And this is true also, for example, of Syria, and it's true
of several other countries. But what will be done and when is above my pay
grade."
Officials said Powell and Rumsfeld have also clashed over other Middle
East issues including the Arab-Israeli conflict. They said Rumsfeld and
other Pentagon senior officials have been given greater authority than their
predecessors in shaping U.S. foreign policy.
