Ever since the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri earlier this year, there has been a strong suspicion that Syria was behind it, although proof was lacking. The UN-led investigation of the murder seems to be turning up some clues, however. Meanwhile, U.S. and Iraqi officials turn up the heat on Damascus over its role in supporting the terrorist insurgency in Iraq. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) commented on both issues today:

…In Lebanon, a U.N. investigation led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis (and assisted by the FBI) is making arrests and turning up leads in the probe into the February assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. And no surprise, the evidence all points in Syria’s direction.

Mr. Mehlis, who was called in after it became clear that Lebanese officials would not be able to conduct a credible investigation, has so far detained five suspects, all high-level, all with close links to Syria. Among them: Mustafa Hamdan, the commander of the Lebanese Presidential Guard; Ali Hajj, the former chief of Lebanon’s police; and Raymond Azar, the former head of military intelligence.

So far, the Syrians have steadfastly denied involvement in the murder; Syrian dictator Bashar Assad insists his regime is “being fully cooperative.” Anne Patterson, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., demurs. “No, there has been no cooperation,” she says, a view shared even by U.N. officialdom.

Meanwhile, yesterday Iraqi Defense Minister Saadun al-Dulaimi accused Syria of “exporting destruction” by allowing safe haven and transit for insurgents across its border with Iraq. “The regions of Al-Qaim, Hussayba, Rutbah and Rommana and others have been held hostage by terrorists coming from all countries and who have found no point of entry to Iraq other than Syria,” Mr. Dulaimi said. Those are the same enemies that U.S. and Iraqi troops have been fighting in the terrorist-controlled town of Tal Afar over the past week…

Reuters is reporting that Syria is becoming more accomodating with regard to witnesses (this link also discusses the evidence implicating Syrian officials). Now is the time that we need to start talking seriously with our Iraqi counterparts about using military force against Syria if they don’t get serious about cooperation on the terrorist front. Joshua Landes at Syria-Comment has a post which explains that it is so difficult to control movement across the border because tribal ties overlap. I agree that it would be difficult for Syria to choke off movement even if it wanted to, but looking at the government’s iron grip elsewhere, including its successful blocking of the Syria-Lebanon border recently, it is pretty clear that they could do more.

Contributed by Kirk H. Sowell of Window on the Arab World, and More!