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American Carrots for Syrian Sticks?

[Jerusalem Post] Matthew R.J. Brodsky - There are two opposing views on how to handle Syria. The first holds that Syria has taken Iraq's place in the "axis of evil," and that the way to alter its behavior is continued isolation and stepped-up sanctions - this is the stick approach. The second argues that the U.S. should engage with Damascus and attempt to pry Syria from its allies in Tehran with a basket of incentives - the carrot approach. Assad wants "normalized" relations, a new U.S. ambassador (recalled after Hariri's assassination in Lebanon in 2005), an end to economic sanctions, compensation for the recent U.S. air strike, and American sponsorship of indirect peace talks with Israel. In other words, in return for agreeing to an increased regional role and an end to its isolation, the Assad regime would like to be offered an increased regional role, an end to their isolation - and a pile of cash to boot. Apparently, the hope of the regime in Damascus is that if it creates a regional problem, it should receive an international reward for fixing it. Carrots, be they diplomatic or economic, should be offered to those who adopt genuinely helpful policies. Providing them to states that merely offer to temporarily reduce their degree of rogue behavior is not only bad policy; it is bound to lead Syria to light more fires and then ask for additional rewards for extinguishing them. The writer is a Legacy Heritage Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington.
2008-11-27 01:00:00
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