Moallem: Syria ready in case of US military strike

Source: AFP, 31-03-2008
DAMASCUS: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said on Sunday that Damascus was prepared for all scenarios in its worsening relationship with Washington, including the use of US military force. "A prudent person must make all his calculations, especially when we have to deal with an administration which knows how to strike but does not know how to withdraw," Moallem told reporters at the end of an Arab summit in Damascus.
He was referring to Iraq, where almost 160,000 American troops are stationed five years after invading the country to overthrow President Saddam Hussein. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and over 4,000 US soldiers have since died there.
Moallem was responding to a question over whether Damascus feared "a US strike against Syria or Iran" if US diplomatic efforts fail to isolate Syria.
"We hope that this will not happen. We hope for dialogue and an accord in order to avoid more American destruction of our region and more deaths to the Americans," he added.
The US has been trying to isolate Syria which it accuses of backing Hizbullah in Lebanon and Palestinian groups.
Washington had urged its allies to think twice before attending the summit, and also charges that Syria has been blocking Lebanon's presidential election. The US has itself denied charges of meddling in the country.