U.S. Special Forces in Syria? 'Fanciful,' says Rumsfeld

WorldTribune/East West Services, Inc
1/18/05

Excerpt:

The United States does not appear to have any plans to attack Syria.

Officials said the Bush administration has agreed to an effort to undermine the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. But they said President George Bush has not approved any military attack on Syria.

Officials said Syria continues to facilitate the flow of funds by Saddam-sponsored insurgents to operatives in Iraq. They said the funds have enabled Sunni insurgents to purchase weapons, Middle East Newsline reported.

Officials said the Defense Department has advocated limited military strikes on Syria to prevent the flow of insurgents and money into Iraq. But the White House has rejected the Pentagon plans.

"U.S. Special Forces are not going into Syria," Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said on Jan. 11. "It is simply fanciful."

"I don't think anybody's talking about counter-attacks or talking military attacks on Syrian targets," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said.