In the last few months, Syria has been cracking down on Islamic insurgents and is trying to open up an intelligence dialogue with the US and show that they are cooperating.

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From the human rights activists in Syria, we have a picture that the Syrians have put the heat on anybody going to Iraq. They have arrested brothers, relatives going to Iraq to fight. They have arrested anybody coming back. Syria has been trying to crack down on these networks that are moving people through Syria into Iraq.

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This [arrest] is Syria's way of saying that we're ready for a deal - of course, a backdoor deal.... They are not ready for public humiliation. They don't want to be completely humiliated in front of an international audience. And the US doesn't want to hear this kind of yes. The US is insisting that Syria [make] a clear break with the past.

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