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Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704324304575307064254125230.html
U.S. Deploys Tech Firms to Win Syrian Allies
(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon - The State Department has dispatched a high-level diplomatic and trade mission to Syria, marking the latest bid by the Obama administration to woo President Bashar al-Assad away from his strategic alliance with Iran. The U.S. delegation comprises senior executives from some of America's top technology companies, including Microsoft, Dell, Cisco Systems and Symantec. Some lawmakers and Syrian human-rights activists criticized news of the State Department's mission Monday, saying Assad hasn't responded to almost any of the policy requests made of him by the U.S. since President Obama announced a policy shift toward engaging Damascus last year. They cited Syria's continued financial and arms support for militant groups operating in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, and Damascus' refusal to cooperate with UN investigators looking into Syria's development of weapons of mass destruction. Some also voiced concern that repression of political opponents could grow if the government develops more sophisticated technologies.