Citing nat'l security threat, Obama prolongs measures by a year.
By JPOST.COM STAFFObama Huh? 311(photo credit: AP)US President Barack Obama extended US sanctions on Syria by a year, a communiqué to Congress detailed on Tuesday.In the message, Obama expressed concern that Syria continues to support terrorist regimes and tries to obtain weapons of mass destruction. Syria's actions and policies "pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," he said.The US president added that the Syrian government had "made some progress in suppressing foreign fighter networks infiltrating suicide bombers into Iraq."RELATED:Clinton: US values diplomatic ties with SyriaUS warns Iran, Syria on threatsHizbullah admits receiving Syrian scuds"As we have communicated to the Syrian government directly, Syrian actions will determine whether this national emergency is renewed or terminated in the future," Obama said.Last month US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton underlined the Obama administration's interest in improving relations with Syriadespite its "deeply troubling" moves to aid Hizbullah in neighboring Lebanon, seeing the relationship as crucial to the Middle East peace process."Where we are as of today is that we believe it is important to continue the process to return an ambassador; this is not some kind of reward for the Syrians and the actions they take that are deeply disturbing," she said.
