ElBaradei Springs Into Action, Declares Syria ‘Innocent Until Proven Guilty’

The UN’s blind watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei is pushing hard to continue helping the Syrians build a nuclear reactor, despite new evidence that they were conducting a clandestine nuclear project. ElBaradei says that just like individuals, countries should be considered innocent until proven guilty: ‘Don’t prejudge Syrian nuclear program.’

“There are claims against Iraq, which proved to be bonkers, but only after a terrible war,” ElBaradei said after the US and its allies questioned Syria’s right to his agency’s help in planning a power-producing atomic reactor.

“There is one thing called investigation, another called clear-cut proof of innocence or guilt … and all of you, even if you are not lawyers, know that people and countries are innocent until proven guilty,” he said. …

Syria denies hiding nuclear activities. But the report strengthened both concerns that it might have something to conceal and arguments from the US and its allies that Damascus should not be offered agency help in planning its civilian reactor. Beyond helping the Syrians develop expertise, the $350,000 aid project would send the wrong signal about a country under investigation by the IAEA, critics like the Americans argued.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said it was “totally inappropriate, we believe, given the fact that Syria is under investigation by the IAEA for building a nuclear reactor outside the bounds of its international legal commitments.” …

But ElBaradei disagreed, saying there was no legal basis to cancel or postpone the program.

Commenting on ElBaradei’s scrappy stance, a senior diplomat with good connections to IAEA staff said the agency chief personally sent text messages to key aides telling them to stand tough on the Syria issue. He demanded anonymity because his information was privileged.

(Hat Tip:The LGF Cult Leader)

My Comments:

This just shows the the UN is in the tank for the Islamo-Fascists. Why are we still in the UN?

Obama Lied About Firing Anti-Israel Adviser?

In May of this year, Barack Obama fired Middle East adviser Robert Malley when it was revealed that Malley had been holding secret talks with Hamas.

One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.

Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama’s Middle East advisory council. “I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people,” he added.

Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Mr Obama, responded swiftly: “Rob Malley has, like hundreds of other experts, provided informal advice to the campaign in the past. He has no formal role in the campaign and he will not play any role in the future.”

According to reports from the Middle East, Ben LaBolt and the Obama campaign were lying.

Report: Obama Sends Advisor Malley to Cozy Up to Egypt and Syria.

According to a report on Middle East Newsline, President-elect Barack Obama has dispatched his “senior foreign policy adviser”, Robert Malley to Egypt and Syria to outline Obama’s policy on the Middle East.

Malley reportedly relayed a promise from Obama that the United States would seek to enhance relations with Cairo and reconcile differences with Damascus.

“The tenor of the messages was that the Obama administration would take into greater account Egyptian and Syrian interests,” an aide to Malley was quoted as saying. The aide said Obama plans to launch a U.S. diplomatic initiative toward Syria. Malley met both Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad “to explain Obama’s agenda for the Middle East.”

UPDATE at 11/10/08 9:04:36 am:

An Egyptian source confirms the story from Arutz Sheva:

On the flipside, it emerged that Obama had sent his senior foreign policy advisor Robert Malley to both Cairo and Damascus these past few weeks to outline the president-elect’s plans for the region, which indicates a willingness to further strengthen ties with staunch US ally Egypt and begin boosting relations with Syria.

UPDATE at 11/10/08 11:37:19 am:

Allahpundit is skeptical, and that’s a good attitude to maintain. But Barack Obama’s lack of transparency about his past associations with anti-Israel activists is enough to keep us from discounting the story entirely. If the Obama people issue a disavowal, we’ll report that, of course.

UPDATE at 11/10/08 12:09:25 pm:

More possible connections pointed out at Mere Rhetoric: Syria: On Second Thought, We’re Gonna Wait A Few More Months Before Talking About A Peace Deal (UPDATED AND BUMPED: Assad Convinced By Malley Not Brzezinski?)

(Hat tip:Charles the Fake)

US Attacks Syria in Cross-Border Raid

The US military is fed up with Syria’s open support of Iraqi jihadis, and today they sent helicopters into Syrian territory in a strike targeting a family that has been helping the jihadis get across the border: Syria: US choppers attack village near Iraq border.

DAMASCUS, Syria – U.S. military helicopters attacked territory inside Syria close to its border with Iraq Sunday, killing eight people in a strike the Syrian government condemned as “serious aggression.”

A U.S. military official said the raid by special forces targeted the foreign fighter network that travels through Syria into Iraq in an area where the Americans have been unable to shut it down because it was out of the military’s reach.

“We are taking matters into our own hands,” the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of cross-border raids.

The attack came just days after the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq said American troops were redoubling efforts to secure the Syrian border, which he called an “uncontrolled” gateway for fighters entering Iraq.

(hat tip:LGF Cult leader)