A visit with Assad

US. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau recently visited the Middle East. She kept a daily journal. Here is the eighth and final installment.

By Jo Ann Emerson

Tuesday, Nov. 11: Damascus, Syria, is one of the oldest cities in the world, continuously inhabited for 3,500 years.

The terrorist groups Hamas and Hizbollah are still operational in Syria, even though the Syrian government claims to have closed them down. This is definitely a country where Americans are at risk.

Today we met with President Bashar al-Assad, the elected Syrian leader. Our first order of business was to express our extreme concern over terrorist groups operating in Syria. Also, we need more cooperation on Iraq, with whom Syria shares a border of approximately 350 miles. We need Syria to acknowledge the work that remains to be done on terrorism within its own borders, because it affects the entire region.

And one last concern we brought up is the large amount of Iraqi assets frozen by the Syrian government: $266 million. We could use this money to aid the reconstruction effort.

President Assad is a shrewd leader. But after years of dealing with Iraq and Israel, it is difficult to trust him. He knows what we know, though: His cooperation is essential to the stability of the region. He was an opthamologist before becoming president.

Assad reminded us that the CIA has acknowledged Syria's help in the war on terrorism. He also said it is difficult for him to fulfill American requests which are not in the best interests of his country. His comments were a little defensive, but he said Syria stands ready to help with Iraq when the situation becomes clearer. Of course, when I pressed him on his definition of "clearer," he never directly answered me.

Each individual challenge we face in the Middle East, no matter how large or small, affects the region as a whole. Israel is always a part of that stability. Some of Assad's comments are directed at the occupied territories, the terrorists undermining the peace process in Israel and the Road Map to Peace in the Middle East.

Assad wants to have a dialogue with the United States about terrorism, Iraq and Israel. That is probably the most important piece of information we took from our meeting. Assad understands the long-term ramifications of having terrorists in his country, whether they are organized groups or rogues. He wants better information from us, but I know how dangerous information can be in the wrong hands too.

After visiting Jordan, Iraq and Syria, I realize that American-style democracy is nearly impossible in this region. These Arab nations need to discover the democratic principles that work best for them on their own. We can provide a framework and know-how, but the end product must be their own.

Iraq needs a political system with a president, a parliament and a strong judicial system. Unless the Iraqis succeed, we will have a new domino effect in the Middle East. Everyone I have talked to here is in agreement that the key to long-term stability in the Middle East is resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

After lunch, we are en route to Germany and on our way home. I will have an opportunity to visit some of our wounded soldiers as well as more troops from Missouri on the ground there.

I have learned three things on this trip:

The true urgency of a solution to the problems between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The necessity of quickly passing leadership of Iraq to an Iraqi president.

And the determination of our troops -- not just in the Middle East, but everywhere. Every one of them I met is bravely doing their duty for the freedom of men, women and children they will never meet. Through our troops and the dedicated Americans tackling the problems that remain in this part of the world, we are truly leading by example. God bless them, and God bless America.