By: Adnan S. Sadduk *

Finally,the US administration decided to resume its diplomatic relations with Syria which is blacklisted as a terrorism-sponsoring country!

The question is:"Is the Government of the United States of America,along with the Congress,going to drop its charges against the Syrian regime and terminate the economic and trade sanctions imposed on it?"

If the answer is yes,what would the US get from President Bashar Al-Assad's Syria in return for acquitting it of sponsoring terrorism and granting it a full diplomatic recognition?Does the US administration,by opening a new chapter of diplomatic relations with Syria,think that it will walk on a red carpet or on a road strewn with roses?

Or, in other words,will the White House be able to achieve a real success or progress on the track of the new friendly diplomatic relations?If yes,how much political gain will it obtain and how long the"presumed"progress will last?

The US administration should be realistic in its expectations and calculations when it comes to building new bridges and opening new channels of communication with Syria.Our top leadership, as well as our law-making Congressional members,should not forget-or neglect-the following factors if they are"determined"to go ahead with the new decision:the decision
to walk the road to Damascus which is-in my opinion-attended with lots of risks and difficulties.

-The first factor is about the Syrian-Iranian alliance.We know that there's a very strong relationship between Syria and Iran which means that the two countries would in no way, or under any circumstances,be separated from
each other politically or militarily.

The"strategic"alliance that binds both of them is"impossible"to break or"penetrate" because Syria needs Iran and Iran needs Syria.They're both bitter enemies of Israel and enjoy the sympathy and moral support of
the average Arab or the"Arab street".

Don't forget the fact that religiously Islam is the strongest bond which unites the two allies against not only Israel,but also against the West!It's a vital matter for Iran to remain a major player in the Middle East and to maintain its sphere of influence in Syria,Lebanon and even in the neighboring oil-rich countries.

-The second factor is the Syria-Hizbullah alliance.It's true that their relationship is "covert"more than"overt"but,still,it's extremely staunch and unbreakable!

Once again,what unites Syria and Hizbullah and makes their alliance strong and permanent is Israel and not any other country.

-The third factor is the Gollan Heights which Israel seized from Syria in the 6-day 1967 Arab-Israeli war.There's no guarantee that the US-Syrian diplomatic relations will"survive"or"flourish"for a long time while the Gollan Heights remain under Israeli control.

So,not returning the Gollan-Heights to Syria diminishes the chances of developing healthy and fruitful relations between the United States and Syria.
-The fourth factor deals with the Middle East  peace process.Syria considers itself an indispensable partner in the peace negotiations and therfore must be involved in any U.S.-sponsored future political or diplomatic deal related to the Israeli-Arab dispute.An essential part or component of the ideology of the Syrian regime is solving the Palestinian problem through reaching a comprehensive just and permanent solution.

Without that...without the US settling the Israeli-Arab once for all...it[the US]won't be able to sustain long-standing diplomatic relations with Syria.

Based on these factors,the road to Damascus will be full of obstacles,zigzaged and impassable!

* (Former Jordanian Charge d' Affaires in Yemen)