The official told the Wall Street Journal that the State Department was
promoting diplomatic and trade cooperation with Syria. The delegation, which
included senior diplomats and was led by Alec Ross, was scheduled to depart
Syria on June 17.
On June 15, the U.S. delegation, which included at least two State
Department officials, met Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus.
Officials said the talks focused on the prospect of relaying U.S.
information technology to Syria.
The administration approved the delegation despite criticism by key
members of Congress on Syria's growing alliance with Iran. In a report in
April 2010, the State Department acknowledged that U.S. engagement with the
regime of President Bashar Assad has not resulted in greater openness by
Syria.
In 2009, Obama approved Internet technology and aerospace exports to
Syria as part of a policy to woo the Assad regime away from Iran. Syrian
opposition groups have assessed that the technology was being used by
Damascus to monitor dissidents.
"Apparently, some in the U.S. State Department, still to this day,
remain committed to pursuing Assad to peel him away from Iran," Farid
Ghadry, head of the opposition Reform Party of Syria, said.
In May 2010, the administration expressed concern over Syrian missile
transfers to Hizbullah. But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the
alleged missile transfers would not stop plans to send an ambassador to
Syria.
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