U.S. Sharply Scolds Syria and Threatens Sanctions

Following the toppling of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the Bush administration warned Syria to "ponder the implications" of supporting terrorism, developing chemical weapons and harboring fugitives from Saddam Hussein’s regime. Despite issuing harsh warning, the Bush Administration insists that it will explore all diplomatic and economic options in dealing with Syria. Syria has denied all of the charges and insists that there has been no cooperation between Damascus and Baghdad. While Syria has supported the disarmament of Iraq’s suspected weapons of mass destruction, it opposed the American led military attack against Saddam Hussein’s regime. The US warning to Syria suggests that US involvement in the Middle East will not be limited to simply a change of regime in Iraq, but may expand to a re-shaping of the region. - YaleGlobal.