BLOOMBERG: CLINTON, OBAMA DISPATCH ENVOYS TO DAMASCUS FOR TALKS

For the first time in four years, two top US officials will go to Damascus to for talks with the Syrian government.  Acting Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman and White House adviser Dan Shapiro will go to Damascus from meetings with Clinton in Israel. 

“There are a number of issues that we have between Syria and the United States as well as the larger regional concerns that Syria poses.”–Hillary Clinton

Engagement with Syria still depends on its compliance with core demands of the United States, including helping to stabilize Iraq, ending support for terrorist groups, stopping the flow of weapons to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, and acknowledging Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence. 

Question to the Blogosphere:  Is the time right for re-engagement with Syria?  Are the core demands of the Obama administration too many to ensure that negotiations will in fact happen with Syria?  Do you think track one diplomacy is most useful here, or should track two diplomacy occur, away from much of the glare of the media?  Why is Syria trying to reestablish relations with the United States and Israel?  Is the reason we are willing to engage Syria now because of their gestures to Israel or is it something inherently different about the new Obama administration?