How much hypocrisy and backpeddling can you find?

[cynatnite]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050215/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_syria

U.S. Withdraws Ambassador From Syria

WASHINGTON - The United States has recalled its ambassador to Syria amid rising tensions over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, announcing the move, said it reflected the Bush administration's "profound outrage" over Hariri's assassination.

Boucher did not accuse Syria of being involved in the bombing Monday in Beirut. "I have been careful to say we do not know who committed the murder at this time," he said.

(Why are they pulling out the ambassador again?)

But he said the deadly attack illustrated that Syria's strong military and political presence in Lebanon was a problem and had not provided security in the neighboring country.

"It reminds us even more starkly that the Syrian presence in Lebanon is not good," Boucher said. "It has not brought anything to the Lebanese people."

(How long has the Syrian presence been there? It just seems a little too convenient to me)

Boucher refused to describe Syria's reaction to Scobey's diplomatic messages in Damascus. Syria has not yet taken any reciprocal action, such as withdrawing its own ambassador to Washington.

(Why not say what their reaction was?)

Meanwhile, European Union (news - web sites) foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he sees no immediate need to change EU relations with Syria. In an interview with The Associated Press, Solana said he would also support an international investigation into the bombing.

(Yippee! This does need investigated)

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, apparently referring to the note Scobey delivered to the Syrian foreign ministry, said the United States has "made it clear to Syria that we expect Syria to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and the disbanding of militias,"

(We've already proven we don't have to go along with the UN, but everybody else does;))

The administration had earlier condemned the killing of Hariri, a billionaire construction magnate who masterminded the recovery of his country, and insisted that Syria comply with a U.N. resolution calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

(See above)

He resigned four months ago in light of tensions with Syria but was weighing a political comeback. A Sunni Muslim, Hariri was on good terms with Lebanese Christians and was especially close to French President Jacques Chirac, who has called for an international investigation.

(Yippee! I love stuff being investigated!)

The administration did not directly support Chirac on his call for an international inquiry, but the White House said those responsible for the bombing of Hariri's motorcade must be punished.

(Hold the phone! Ya' mean we should go after the people responsible, but not find out who they are? Wow, our intelligence at work. They are so smart:eyes:

In Washington for meetings with Vice President Dick Cheney and Rice, the Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said "it is still premature to reach conclusions" about Hariri's assassination.

(Well, no since nobody's investigating it. It is premature)

(I'm so impressed by our nation. Shoot first and to hell with the questions and we're the only ones allowed to do that.:crazy: