] The large arms deal Syria recently made on behalf of the
] regime in Baghdad (thus provoking rage in Washington)
] involved the acquisition from Russia of 500 laser-guided
] anti-tank missiles and their transfer to the Iraqis.
]
]
] U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said in
] Washington some five days ago that Syria was continuing
] to transfer military items to the Iraqis, referring to
] arms and military equipment deals Syrians made before the
] outbreak of hostilities in Iraq. These deals, going back
] to 2001, initially focused on East European states that
] manufacture Russian weapons systems such as tanks,
] artillery cannons, and engines for tanks and MiG fighter
] jets.