The overwhelming endorsement of the Syrian Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act (SALSRA) by both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate is clear confirmation of the US administrations shift in policy toward Syria and its occupation of Lebanon. The passing of SALSRA puts the issue of Lebanons freedom, sovereignty and independence firmly on the agenda of US foreign policy.

Previously, The manner in which the United States treated Baathist Syria was comparable to the way Great Britain and France treated Germany’s Adolf Hitler prior to World War Two. Sovereign countries were ceded to Nazi Germany in return for peace, a peace that lasted only a short while.

For what seemed like an eternity, US policy had been to placate Syria, a country that has illegally invaded and occupied a smaller neighbour, openly supported terrorism and continued to produce weapons of mass destruction. This perplexing relationship between Washington and Damascus continued for decades and might have continued had it not been for Syria’s behaviour post-September 11, especially during the Iraq conflict.

Prior to the war with Iraq, SALSRA’s path through the US Congress had not been all plain sailing, the Bush administration even blocked its progression once before and for a while it looked like the previous policy of appeasement would continue, but Damascus had failed to comply with and even hindered Washington on specific matters and SALSRA was given the all clear to proceed.

The belated but nevertheless welcomed change has come after many years of tacit US appeasement of Syria. In actual fact the current views regarding Syria by the top members of the Bush administration are a complete contrast to the longstanding views of previous US governments, who used the carrot instead of the stick when dealing with this rogue nation. One such example is Lebanon and the manner in which it was given to Syria practically on a platter in return for Syrian co-operation.

The passing of SALSRA is effectively yet another nail in the coffin of the Baathist Assad regime. This explains the fuss that was made by the Syrian and Lebanese officials who while verbally attacking the US for going ahead with SALSRA, claimed that the bill would have no effect on the Syrian regime whatsoever and also stipulated that the bill means nothing to them. This ultimately leads one to pose the question that if the bill will have no effect on Syria and it means nothing to them, why than make such a commotion?

The fact remains that contrary to what the Syrian regime and its puppets in occupied Lebanon would have us believe, SALSRA in fact will have a detrimental effect on Syria and its grip on Lebanon. The ruckus caused by both the Syrian’s and their Lebanese slaves was a form of acknowledgement that they are worried about the impending action which will come as a result of SALSRA.

For President Bush to succeed in his drive to restore democracy and freedom in the Middle East, It is imperative that the US keeps the heat on Syria. It is hoped that through diplomatic pressure Syria can be brought to heel. But unfortunately, history tells us that a rogue state that is run by an oppressive regime cannot be trusted. Hopefully this time Syria realizes that it has a lot to lose if it does not heed the demands of the United States and abandons its occupation of Lebanon, ends its support for terrorism and ceases its weapons of mass destruction program. For the sake of peace and stability in the region it is hoped that Syria makes a historic decision and changes its policies, if not than SALSRA will surely make sure of that.