Editorial: Don’t get euphoric over Syria’s moves

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 8:58 a.m.

Several weeks ago the Bush administration started applying pressure on Syria, hinting that if the Mideast country didn't stop militarily aiding Iraq, Syria could face the military might of the United States. Subsequently, U.S. officials expressed their suspicion that Syria was harboring top Iraqi officials who fled after Saddam Hussein's regime fell. In at least one respect, it appears Syria is taking the United States seriously.

Syria officials say they are tightening their borders and have turned over to the U.S. military some Iraqi officials who entered their country, including a son-in-law of Saddam's and one of Saddam's former bodyguards. President Bush said Sunday that Syria has gotten the message: "I'm confident the Syrian government has heard us, and I believe it when they say they want to cooperate with us."

The administration's tough talk prompted Syria to take action. While the United States now is seeking to engage Syria diplomatically, a course we agree with, nonetheless we should be cautious. Bashar Assad is a dictator who, like his father Hafez Assad, continues to harbor anti-Israel terrorist groups, such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Syria also has supported another terrorist organization, Hezbollah, which carries out attacks against Israelis from Lebanon.

Hafez Assad would make token concessions when the United States turned up the heat, but in the end he refused to make substantive changes to his brutal government. The Bush administration should be just as wary of the son and demand real progress. For starters, it's time for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon as Israel did three years ago. The United States -- now that it has Syria's attention -- also should insist that Syria stop sponsoring terrorists if it doesn't want to continue to be considered an outlaw regime.