US freezes assets of Syrian intelligence chief

[UpInArms]

isn't this something that Ledeen would propose - Syria is one of his goals :eyes:

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-01-18T170754Z_01_N18188166_RTRUKOC_0_US-SYRIA-USA-SHAWKAT.xml&archived=False

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday froze the U.S. assets of Syrian military intelligence director Asef Shawkat, accusing him of fomenting terrorism against Israel and backing Syria's intrusion in Lebanon.

The U.S. Treasury Department, in the Bush administration's latest effort to pressure Syria, named Shawkat a "Specially Designated National" -- freezing his assets in the United States and banning U.S. citizens from doing business with him.

"Shawkat has been a key architect of Syria's domination of Lebanon, as well as a fundamental contributor to Syria's long-standing policy to foment terrorism against Israel," said Stuart Levey, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the U.S. Treasury.

The U.S. Treasury did not specify whether Shawkat, who is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, had any assets in the United States.

...more...

[allemand]

1. US ties Syrian official to Iraq insurgency

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday for the first time named a Syrian official as having "directly contributed" to support for the insurgency in Iraq, as the United States moved to freeze his assets.

The charge came after the US Treasury Department slapped the financial sanctions on the official, Syrian military spy chief Asset Shawkat, the brother-in-law of President Bashar al-Assad.

"Mr. Shawkat, as Syria's chief of military intelligence, has directly contributed to Syria's support for terrorism, including the insurgency in Iraq, Palestinian terrorist groups given shelter in Damascus, and Hezbollah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Shawkat "has also been deeply involved in Syria's ongoing interference" in Lebanon, he added. "Today's action is a significant signal that those, like Mr. Shawkat, who support Syrian terrorism will be held to account."
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18012006/323/ties-syrian-official-iraq-insurgency.html

[bemildred]

2. Well that will teach him a lesson.

(Stamps foot. Frowns. Checks image in the video monitor.)

Meawhile: "The U.S. Treasury did not specify whether Shawkat, who is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, had any assets in the United States." Piffle. I hereby freeze all of George Bushes assets that are in my care.