Until the Hariri assassination -- which the United States has not linked directly to the Assad regime -- Syria still sparked differences within the administration. A source with ties to the administration said a plan was developed a month ago to authorize U.S. military forces to cross Iraq's border into Syria if they were in "hot pursuit" of suspected insurgents. But the administration, the source said, shelved the plan after resistance from U.S. commanders who asked for more time to handle the situation.
As the administration deliberates options, analysts warn of potential dangers in confronting Damascus. "If our objective is to free Lebanon from Syria's grip, then we have to understand that Syria has a vital interest in Lebanon and will act accordingly," said Martin Indyk, former State Department and National Security Council staff member now at the Brookings Institution.
"The last time we had a vital interest in Lebanon we sent U.S. Marines -- and lost 241 of them," he said, referring to the 1983 bombing in Beirut. "Are we ready to have people die for the sake of Lebanon's freedom from Syria?"
The dangers, Indyk said, are partly from Hezbollah, an Islamic party whose militant wing was linked to attacks on U.S. diplomatic and military facilities and American hostage-taking in Lebanon in the 1980s. The United States needs to be "clear-headed about the stakes and the risks," especially the prospect of turmoil pushing Lebanon into chaos again, he added.
But sanctions have strong support in Congress, where Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) called yesterday for "tough" new measures.
"The assassination shows that Syrians continue to act with impunity," said Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), a co-sponsor of the Syrian Accountability Act.
Noting that Bush has enacted two of six possible sanctions under the law, Engel called on the administration to implement all options as well as other steps by executive order. "It's time to ban U.S. companies investing or operating in Syria. Not that we have a lot, but I think it sends a message."
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), a co-sponsor of the act, said Washington should use attention from the assassination to "save Lebanon and give to them their independence."
Decisions on new measures may be weeks away, U.S. and European officials said, since the United Nations is first expected to report on the "circumstances, causes and consequences" of Hariri's death.
