August 20, 2007 (LPAC)--Senator Joe Lieberman seems to be using his August recess to (Dick Cheney's) best advantage: working to increase tensions in the mid-east, targetting Syria. Lieberman pens a piece in today's (now Murdoch-owned) Wall Street Journal, arguing that, to prevent al-Qaeda suicide bombers from entering Iraq, the US should do its best to-- shut down the Damascus International Airport. This is where 90% of the suicide bombers, destined for Iraq, disembark for their approach, he says, obliquely referring to "recently declassified American intelligence."

It's impossible that Assad isn't aware of this, he says, since Syria is a police-state, so they obviously know every movement in or out of the airport. Congress needs to "set aside whatever differences" divide it on Iraq policy, and send Syria an unambiguous message. If Syria doesn't then start to cooperate, he says, the US should do its best to create an international boycott of the airport, through the voluntary aid of "responsible" air carriers.

Closer to Syria, another Cheney asset, Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister, was arguing that "strengthening ties" between Syria and Iran posed a "threat to the existence of the Jewish state," to use the words of the Jerusalem Post. Lieberman was responding to a report in the London-based Asharq Alawsat that Iran would aid Syria in the purchase of Russian planes and missiles, as well as aid Syria in its nuclear research program, the accuracy of which has been questioned by the administration. Lieberman directed his call to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whom he urged to bring the hawkish Likud into the government, through the creation of an "emergency" grand coalition with Labor, thus bringing Israel one step closer to war.

See: The Guns of August 2007: Cheney's Finger is already on the Trigger