In December 2003, President Bush signed the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003. The legislation was sponsored by the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the main pro-Israel lobby in America. It was billed by its supports, in and out of Congress, as an effort to apply proper pressure, via economic sanctions, on the Assad government in Damascus in order to compel them to be more cooperative in the so-called “War on Terror,” withdrawal from Lebanon and cease the accused effort to manufacture WMDs.

The Bush administration had the discretion to tighten or loosen economic sanctions as it saw fit, and President Bush tightened sanctions in 2004 to the degree that only food and medicine could be exported from the U.S. to Syria. Throughout the Bush era the United States and Syria were often antagonists with the U.S. ambassador being withdrawn in mid-2005.

Although the U.S. ambassador was not yet been returned by the Obama administration, such a sept would signal an upgrade in relations that the Obama team is not yet prepared for, the Obama has nonetheless decided to send a message that a new rapport between Syria and America is possible by loosening the sanctions.

A Syrian newspaper affiliated with the government - al-Baath [The Baath; as in Baath party] - was reported that the United States has agreed to supply Syria with spare parts for its two Boeing 747s. The planes have been out of service for years, but the upgrade will allow them to start flights again.

The report quoted Minister of Transport Yarub Badr who confirmed the story. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus refused to comment.

A sign of things to come? Syria probably wants to be freed of its isolation and resume trade in order to revive its economy.