WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) -- A diplomatic approach in Washington that encourages engagement as a broader Middle East detente may hinge on improving relations with Damascus.
The foreign policy advocated by U.S. President Barack Obama focuses on constructing an axis of engagement rather than shunning the axis of evil of his predecessor, an analysis of Obama's Middle East policy by CNN International says.
Through Syria, Washington may contain Iran, its nuclear ambitions and its proxies in the Lebanese Hezbollah, while subsequently expanding American influence in the broader Middle East.
Meanwhile, with Damascus facing an uncertain economic future in the global recession and dwindling oil revenues, taking a step closer to the United States may ease some of the burden, especially if economic sanctions are lifted, the report says.
For her part, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the efforts of Acting Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman to engage Syrian officials would "test the waters" in Damascus.
"Syria can play an important, constructive role in the region," Feltman told reporters last week.
Feltman, the former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, and Daniel Shapiro with the National Security Council visited Damascus Saturday, the first high-level visit by U.S. envoys in four years.
