Soccer Dad

No ipods for you

Today's Washington Post quotes Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman about American concerns regarding Syria.

Syria needs to pressure Iran and Hezbollah to rein in their activities in Lebanon if it wants to rebuild relations with the United States, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East said in an interview.

"Syria and the United States have taken some modest steps to see if we can improve the bilateral relationship," said Jeffrey D. Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. "But this cannot go very far as long as Syria's friends are undermining stability in Lebanon. We have made that absolutely clear to the Syrians. There is a cost to the potential in our bilateral relationship to what Syria's friends are doing in Lebanon."

But as the article observes later on:

But Feltman refrained from naming any consequences for Syria and Iran if they undermine the Lebanese government, except to say that Syria risked losing an opportunity to improve ties with Washington. Syria in recent years has also rebuilt relations with Saudi Arabia and France - both of which had shunned Damascus after Hariri's killing - and those ties could also suffer if the Lebanese government collapses.

Of course, as Barry Rubin observes regarding statements made by State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley:

So of course, a reporter asks--and remember this is October 2010 so they haven't heard any answer in the last twenty months: "You've laid out the carrots that are offered to the Syrians, i.e., potential of better or improved U.S. relationships if they do these things you want them to do. What's the consequences if they continue not to listen to you?"

Does Crowley hurl lightning bolts? Does he threaten and hint and warn? No, he does not: In fact, he seems rather surprised by the question. His answer is so amazing [in incoherence as well as content] I just have to quote it in full. [Note: If you wish I give you permission to skip the next paragraph]:

"Well, I mean, there are sanctions against Syria. It still is listed on the terrorism list by the United States, and those have an impact. But if Syria wants the potential-a change in the relation with the United States, a change in opportunities that come with normal relations, then it has to improve its performance. Give you an example: Earlier this summer, technology leaders under the auspices of the State Department had a delegation that visited Damascus, and our message to the leaders...is very clear. You want leading technology companies from the United States and other areas of the world to invest in Damascus, then you've got to create the appropriate climate to encourage them to do that. You've got to have a climate where-change the relationship between the government and the people. So if this is, in fact, the ambition by the Syrian leadership, then it has to change its policies and its practices."

So that's it! If you take over Lebanon, send terrorists into Iraq to kill Americans, back Hamas, arm Hizballah, and move so close to Iran that a hydrogen atom cannot pass between you, the United States will take a terrible vengeance: It won't let American technology companies invest in you!

This is now Ameican diplomacy, "Speak softly and carry an ipod."

Please note: The reference to an ipod, is inspired by Barry Rubin.