October surprise: US attacks Syria

US special forces launch rare attack inside Syria. A U.S. military official said the raid by special forces targeted the network of al-Qaida-linked foreign fighters moving through Syria into Iraq. The Americans have been unable to shut the network down in the area because Syria was out of the military’s reach. “We are taking matters into our own hands,” the official told The Associated Press in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of cross-border raids. — Huffington Post

Your guide to America’s new war In Syria. Seven or nine people have been killed, so far — maybe Syrians, maybe Barack Obama’s brothers from Kenya. Ha’aretz describes it as a “helicopter-borne commando attack inside Syrian territory.” Doctors in the town say five people are wounded, too.
The U.S. military command in Baghdad won’t say anything. — Wonkette

U.S. choppers attack targets inside Syria? So say local witnesses and, er, Syrian state media. Bush surely realizes how much mileage Democrats will get from painting this as a contrived October surprise and an example of Republican “warmongering,” so if — if — it’s true, something mighty interesting must have been going on in that village to make him pull the trigger. — Hot Air

Meaning of US troops attack in Syria. Oddly, Bush never seems to pursue foreign fighters and insurgents into Saudi Arabia even though Israeli, Saudi, and even Pentagon studies say more foreign fighters come into Iraq from Saudi than any other country. As this attack on Syria shows, we are still in the ironic position of relying on “rogue nations” like Syria and Iran acting with more restraint and foresight than Bush to prevent a wider or even world war. — Daily KOS

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