All Roads Lead to Damascus

..a tedious piece in the WSJ, here

"...This is the legacy of radicalism, subversion and ruthlessness with which President Obama must grapple as he sets out to place America's relations with Syria on fresh footing. Not all the auguries bode ill. Syria has recently taken measures to reduce the number of armed infiltrators crossing its border into Iraq and Mr. Assad, after meeting with a congressional delegation, called for a "constructive dialogue between Syria and [the] United States based on mutual respect and common interest." Damascus has for the first time established a diplomatic presence in Beirut......Most encouraging, perhaps, are reports about strains in the Syrian-Iranian alignment........At the same time, however, the U.S. should be cognizant that these overtures carry risks. The Syrians should be offered carrots -- economic aid, the lifting of sanctions, even-handed mediation for peace ..."