U.S. alters course on Syria

Eli Lake in the Wash-Times, here

"...The Obama administration has signaled a sea change in U.S. policy in its early talks with Syria, seeking Damascus' help in bringing Hamas into negotiations with Israel as well as an agreement enlisting Syrian forces to help seal Iraq's western border from al Qaeda, the Syrian ambassador to Washington said Monday.

In another change from the policies of the Bush administration, the Obama team has not insisted that Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal be expelled from Damascus, Ambassador Imad Moustapha told reporters and editors of The Washington Times....Mr. Moustapha said relations between the two countries have warmed enough that Syrian officials participated in a regional meeting Monday with Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg

......Another State Department official said, however, that the U.S. government, in talks with Syrian officials, also has explored ways in which Syria could moderate Hamas' behavior..."