Syria a "Source of Evil" For Iraq

While President Bush made his case from winning the War in Iraq in an Annapolis speech Wednesday, Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi made what some may interpret as a veiled threat by the Iraqi government against a Syrian government tolerant of cross-border terrorism:

"My brothers, this is historic, national and legitimate mission. You are protecting this gate at the western border that used to be a source of evil to Iraq and a source for the entrance of vampires into Iraq," he said during a visit to the western border town of Husaybah.

Dulaimi said: "We tell our neighbors, take care of your own affairs and don't interfere in Iraq's affairs ... Iraqis are heading for the future and they will not be stopped by a car bomb or a filthy body rigged with explosives," he said.

"You should not be a gate of evil to us. I hope you will be a good gate. I also tell them don't let our patience run out."

al-Dulaimi and the top US commander in Iraq, General George Casey, were making a ceremonial visit to the border town of Husaybah, where border guards returned to their posts after the completion of a combined U.S-Iraqi offensive "clear and hold" operation called Steel Curtain last week that killed 139 insurgents and detained 256 suspects.