Syrian President, First Lady Praise Obama

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's leader praised President Barack Obama's outreach for dialogue and invited him to visit Damascus in remarks released Friday just days after the United States said it plans to return its ambassador to Syria after a four year absence.

Syrian President Bashar Assad comments came in a telegram he sent to Obama on the occasion of the July 4 Independence Day and in an interview he gave to Britain's Sky News.

Also on Sky News, Syria's First Lady Asma al Assad said she envisioned her husband, Bashar, and Barack Obama joining forces.

"The fact is President Obama is young," al Assad said, "and President Assad is also very young as well, so maybe it is time for these young leaders to make a difference in the world."

President Assad's comments also come a month after Obama outlined in a historic speech in Egypt his determination to broker peace among Israel and its Arab neighbors and improve U.S. relations in the region.

"The values that were adopted by President Obama during his election campaign and after he was elected president are values that the world needs today," Assad said in the telegram that was carried by state-run news agency SANA.

"It is very important to adopt the principle of dialogue in relations with countries based on respect and mutual interest," Assad said.

In June, U.S Mideast envoy George Mitchell visited Damascus and met Assad in the highest visit by a U.S. official in more than four years. Mitchell's visit followed two separate trips in the past few months by senior U.S. officials Jeffrey Feltman, acting assistant secretary of state, and Daniel Shapiro, a Middle East expert at the White House.

The Obama administration hopes the diplomatic outreach will encourage Syria to play a positive role in both the Mideast peace process and also in Iraq.

In an interview with Sky News, Assad invited Obama to visit Damascus in order to discuss Mideast peace.

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"We would like to welcome him (Obama) in Syria, definitely. I am very clear about this," Assad said in English. Asked whether such a visit could take place soon, Assad said: "That depends on him."

He added with a smile, "I will ask you to convey the invitation to him."

The Obama administration has stepped up pressure on Arab countries to help resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and pursue a peace deal with the Jewish state themselves. Syria is seen as a key player in this process because of its support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip and its intermittent peace talks with Israel.

Syria held four rounds of indirect talks with Israel last year, mediated by Turkey. But the discussions were halted during the Israeli offensive on Gaza in December and January.

Last week, Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama's plans to send back an ambassador to Syria.

The U.S. withdrew its ambassador to Syria in 2005 after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Some Lebanese politicians blamed Syria for the assassination, a claim that Damascus denies.

The U.S. also has accused Syria of not doing enough to stop the infiltration of militants to fight U.S. and allied forces in neighboring Iraq.

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Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

Comments

[maxwellinformed]

Damn! She's Hot!

[pointy]

Don't worry, I can sees every thugs from my house! And I has a barrel to put them in it ! Is impossible to put U.S. on barrel unless like shrink in washing machine LQL! :-) Alcove1 is wrong about methods of determination for world peace. Right wing arguments for peace are smoke screin for robbing the pore people. Iraq a mistake to war on. Everywhere U.S. war on is for money not fredomm or dimocracy. Obama goes the right way to deal with dictators war makes more dictators who no one can deny to because you make war youself.

[Whitley2009]

Send in Michelle! She and Asma can go shopping together, buy some fashionable clothes, and then Asama can tell her husband exactly what he will do. Asma will let him know if he doesn't clean up his act, she will never get to New York to shop with Michelle, nor to the White House to see Bo.

If won't be the first time a woman has had to come to the rescue of a no-load little man like Assad.

In fact, Michelle and Asma could immediately change the political complexion of the Middle-east.

[DFL]

I'm so proud to be an American again! for the first time in 8 years it's nice to have most of the world liking us again!

[Alcove-One]

Did you know Assad welcomed David Duke to Syria a few years ago?
Say hello to your new friends the Dictator of Syria and his pretty wife who chose
to join a crime family rather than pick a decent English guy making an honest living.

[NoWMDs]

Did you know Donald Rumsfeld shook Saddam Hussein's hand when he worked for Reagan and was selling the Iraqis weapons of mass destruction?
Did you know that The US government assasinated the Iranian cleric in the 50's just so they could keep the Shah in power. Did you know that Reagan provided arms, training and money to Osama bin Laden in the '80's just because the Russians invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban...Look where that got us.

[MarcusT]

You simply must consider therapy.

[Ankle]

I was really surprised to see Julia Roberts is First Lady of Syria. The news I miss...

[Alcove-One]

Every thugs in the world knows they have america over a barrel now. Still proud?

[Hillrick]

If we are over a barrel it was put there 8 years ago. We are getting off of a barrel now. If you like the my way or the highway style of diplomacy, surely you are willing to pay more taxes and volunteer for the army to back up your words.

[BumpyKnight]

What a frightened little person.
Go out and some duct tape and plastic.

[surfvenice]

do you know anything about this dictator?

im guessing NO.

[jesuswazasocialist]

Syria is an secular NOT a Islamist country, America should realize this before they think about attacking it.

[Alcove-One]

It's Baathist. In other words, fascist.

[MarcusT]

I've been reading your posts here. You're kinda scary. You even remind me of the radical Islamists I've spoken to. Ironic, huh?

[Dan311]

"The solution of the Arabs today is in unity and their road for achieving unity is through democracy." Michel Aflaq, Founder of the Ba'ath Party

[Alcove-One]

They are aliied with Iran and support Hamas and the Hizbos while eliminating opposition in Lebanaon. It gets really tired trying to educate you libs.

[MIVOTE]

Just educate yourself. The world is moving on to better relations throughout the world without you.

[SlithyTove]

Assad and his clan are Alawis. The Alawis are a tiny minority in Syria's mostly (75+%) orthodox Sunni population, and are about as mainstream Islamic as the Branch Dravidians were Christian.

[RobertHenryEller]

Did anyone know that Julia Roberts is Syria's First Lady?

[Alcove-One]

And Fredo Corleone was Syria's President.

[Alcove-One]

I am sure she married the thug for love. How sweet.

[gappedtoothgodwarrior]

Anyone else thinks this bloke still has a little shrine devoted to the pretty girl where he weeps at what might have been if only, if only she has met him and he'd been able to win her. Then he lights the candle in front of her picture and wanks himself to sleep. ;)

[Ankle]

Ach! You beat me to it! Pretty woman. But did you know, Bashar is an ophthalmology geek?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashar_al-Assad

His older brother who was the one groomed for the presidency was a jock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_al-Assad

The old man, Hafez al-Assad was a jet jock for that matter...

[Alcove-One]

That's correct. Finally someone who did a little research.

[PlayTOE]

I hope we wee these two couples sitting down to a working dinner soon.
It would make the world a better place.

[Alcove-One]

So naive and stupid.

[winstonian22]

Way to go Barack! Coddle those terror-sponsoring countries! Maybe if you coddle them enough you can go back in time and completely RE TEACH their entire religion for the past God-knows how many centuries. What a brilliant man.

[nycvagabond]

ignorant p1g

[patrioticvet]

Since when did dialogue and diplomacy become coddling?

Why do hardliners, from either end of the spectrum fail to understand that extreme views do not endure, nor endear you to others?

We can't invade/bomb everyone we disagree with; tried that - look where it's got us.

Kudos to both countries' leaders for having the common sense to be willing to talk agin. A small first step.

[Alcove-One]

When Obama does it, it is coddling and apologizing. pathetic.

[Pursuance]

Syria is definitely up for the wooing. If the POTUS and Israel plays it right, they can wean Syria from its partnership with Iran and Hezbollah in a matter of years. Of course the Golan Heights will definitely come into play, but I think Assad and his advisers know that their young populace needs the free market to thrive and that is possible with normalize relations with the U.S.

As far as repressive regimes go, Syria is above Saudi Arabia in terms of civil liberties but slightly below Morocco. Not great but at least the women there can drive, among other things.

[Alcove-One]

"POTUS and Israel plays it right, they can wean Syria from its partnership with Iran and Hezbollah in a matter of years".
Oh yeah? the way that will happen if the Iranian mullahs and Hezbollah are history.
Please, get away from your fanatsies and read the recent history of this region.
In other words, grow up and stop being ignorant.

[Pursuance]

Ignorance is exactly what your professing yourself if you failed to see in history there is precedents for long held alliances being broken without the complete obliteration of one of the parties involved, for instance the alliances the U.S. enjoyed in several Latin American countries back in the 80s is now a thing of the past.

Sure the mullahs have consolidated their grips in Syria's politics and getting them out will no doubt lead to a road full of conflicts and possible bloodshed. But Syria is a complex enough society that there can emerge powerful factions from within that can try and break their alliances with Iran if it no longer suits their purpose.

The recent start of possible talks with Israel a couple of years back regarding Golan Heights shows there are movements within Syria to make serious political headway in resolving their conflict with the Jewish nation through negotiations as oppose through insidious terrorist movements. Global alliances is anything if not a fickle beast.

[brynnrose thorn]

Sharifa Asma is the name of one of my favorite roses. Beautiful with an intoxicating fragrance. The Obamas should send her a couple dozen, or even better a bush for her to plant:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2035083860097042842XwifiH

[Ankle]

That's a marvelous idea, Brynnrose. Of course I'm not gonna' mention another "Bush" that could be sent there to be planted...

Oh goodness! Now I sound just like the "birfers" do. Seriously, I'm sending that link to the White House.

[Ankle]

Another link to the lovely rose:

http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/austins/sharifa.html

I was wondering if it wasn't bred and named for her, I guess it wasn't; first bred in 1983?

[brynnrose thorn]

Our brilliant president has laid the groundwork for a normalization of our relations with Syria, a critical player in ME peace, perfectly. A possible alliance with Syria would be a coup and now doesn't seem out of reach. Well done President Barack Hussein Obama!

[Alcove-One]

A real coup in Syria would be better.

[ThinkLiberal]

She's an absolute beauty! After demonizing every non-white people on the planet, the rethugs are going to go totally ballistic when President Obama eventually opens dialogue with the Syrians and all of our supposed boogey-men "enemies". Caution: Head explosions ahead!

[brynnrose thorn]

Ha! Invest in foul-weather gear now. Land's End stock is about to rise considerably.

[Alcove-One]

" demonizing every non-white people "
The Syrian First family look white to me.
Now let's check the color of the political prisoners in Syria.

[Ankle]

And you're gonna' run a Middle East country without political prisoners- how?

[efmo]

Yes & while we're at it, we should check on Uzbekistan's political prisoners, since that country was such a fave of Bush, Cheny & McCain.

[Chopin]

This new generation of young first ladies are helping to define a new wave of global politics based on hope of transcending differences and uniting on the fundamental brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity. Looking at the First Lady Michelle Obama, (former First Lady) Queen Noor and Queen Rania of Jordan, First Lady Asma al Assad of Syria, First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy of France, and others all project a forward looking youthful freshness for a new beginning in world politics, and none more desperately so than in the Middle East. Let all people of goodwill around the world wish them well in joining hands with those female heads of governments to define a creative new way forward, not based on dogmatic religious fanaticism, age-old hatreds, blood feuds, fear, and backward looking mentality.

[gladiator777]

Utopian view, isn't going to happen....but she is hot....perhaps Obama and her will be able to go on a hike....

[iRock]

Ummm... doubt it. She doesn' t look like his type.

:)

[Alcove-One]

THE ARE THE WIVES OF TYRANTS!!!

[Chopin]

Here's surprise for you. "Tyrant" isn't ruler in Middle East, who pulls fingernails, chops off heads, or waterboards subjects and enemies. Wikipedia defines:- "Tyrant carries modern connotations of harsh and cruel ruler who places his own interests or interests of small oligarchy over best interests of general population which the tyrant governs or controls. ..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrant

CEO's, major shareholders, corporate executives of Haliburton-KBR, uncontested recipients of multibilliondollars no-bid contracts for logistics, and major arms manufacturers to supply Iraq war qualify as "oligarchy". Head of this oligarchy is major shareholder and former CEO VP Cheiney and pres. GWB.

MerriamWebster OnlineDictionary defines:- "absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution; a usurper of sovereignty ..."
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrant

President of last 8years calls the Constitution "quaint historical document on scrap of paper". His unprecedented use of "signing statements" to circumvent congressional oversight authority or constitutional constraints qualify as absolute rule unrestrained by law or constitution. A narrow 5to4 margin SupremeCourt ruling overrode completion of vote counting in 2000 presidential election. That qualifies as usurping legitimate authority of national sovereignty conferred by the people through voting.

DictionaryCom defines:- "ruler exercises power oppressively, arbitrarily, unjustly, ..."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tyrant

Ruler who taunts adversaries with "bring it on", and sends 4,000 subjects to their deaths, with inadequate armor, based on a grand deception over "Weapons of Mass Destruction" qualifies as oppressive, arbitrary, unjust in most basic unvarnished truth of labelling of "tyrant".

[Alcove-One]

What a steaming pile of platitudes Chopin.

[MarcusT]

A model, an investment banker and a coddled elitist pretty girl (once had a pretend job at Apple) go into a bar...

[worldman49]

Everyone seems smitten by Asma al Assad, but after watching the investment banks carry out a shakedown of the world's largest economy last year, I'm not too impressed by this woman's background as an alumnae of Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan. Does she wish to see socialist Syria become a privatized, bank-owned state like the US, with vulture funds swooping in and demanding "rationalization" of services in the country? I don't think that would be a positive development for Syria's people, among the healthier and better-educated people in the Arab world. Syria should tread carefully here.

[Ergon]

She worked for an investment bank. Doeszn't make her Bernie madoff, and she quit when she married Assad.

[grammargirl]

The Republicans are fixing to have a collective cardiac event at the mere suggestion of dialogue. They absolutely cannot envisage life on this planet without discord.