U.S. says 'all options on table' to punish Syrian meddling in Iraq

Threatening words directed at Syria.

The top U.S. diplomat in Iraq said Syria has become a hub for terrorists and that U.S. "patience is running out," but he refused to specify what consequences Damascus might face.
The U.S. warning comes as thousands of U.S. and Iraqi forces continued a major assault in the town of TalAfar near the Syrian border, that has left up to 200 insurgents dead.
Speaking to reporters at the State Department, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said: "Our patience is running out, the patience of Iraqis are running out. The time for decision ... has arrived for Damascus."
The top U.S. diplomat in Iraq said Syria has become a hub for terrorists and that U.S. "patience is running out," but he refused to specify what consequences Damascus might face.
The U.S. warning comes as thousands of U.S. and Iraqi forces continued a major assault in the town of TalAfar near the Syrian border, that has left up to 200 insurgents dead.
Speaking to reporters at the State Department, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said: "Our patience is running out, the patience of Iraqis are running out. The time for decision ... has arrived for Damascus."
Khalilzad refused to rule out either a military strike on Syria or an attempt to further punish Syria through the United Nations Security Council.
"All options are on the table," he warned.
Khalilzad refused to rule out either a military strike on Syria or an attempt to further punish Syria through the United Nations Security Council.
"All options are on the table," he warned.

The situation is heating up. We do not know how many forays our troops have made into Syria in hot pursuit - we may never know. So are we gearing up? What about troop strength - how can we start a new war? No worry there because of our Iraqi friends.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said in an interview yesterday that the United States could withdraw as many as 50,000 troops by the end of the year, declaring there are enough Iraqi forces trained and ready to begin assuming control in cities throughout the country.

How convenient. 50,000 to be redeployed - I wonder where? Is this to take our eyes off of the Katrina fiasco or is it a continuation of W's Napoleonic mission to take over the universe?