ABSTRACT
The difficulties that Western governments and commentators have in interpreting Syria's distinctive foreign policy mixture of militancy and pragmatism are encapsulated by the paradox that Syria is the only state that simultaneously features on the official US list of state sponsors of terrorism, while having formal diplomatic relations with the USA and actively cooperating with the USA in counter-terrorism. At the end of World War I, Syria and Lebanon were placed under French authority. After World War II, the USA, USSR and Britain recognized Syria's independence while France still claimed authority, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill threatened to send British forces to uphold Syria's independence before France finally agreed to pull out. Syria's response has always been activist and assertive, which means that it deliberately and knowingly continues to walk a dangerous line. It remains deeply involved in Lebanon, despite withdrawing its forces in 2005 after ex-PM Hariri was murdered and continues to host anti-Israeli militants.
