Just in time for the stellar Specter-Kennedy team that's in Damascus to make peace. Because why not:

A Syrian criminal court on Monday convicted a political activist of insulting the regime and contacting ''hostile parties,'' and sentenced him to one and a half years in prison, a human rights group said. Faiq al-Mir', a member of the outlawed Syrian Democratic People Party was arrested in December 2006 after visiting Lebanon to offer condolences to the family of assassinated Lebanese politician George Hawi, a critic of Syria's role in the neighboring country.

We're doing such a great job in the Middle East. A totally, totally awesome job. Everything is under control.

Is anybody in charge around here? Anybody? Because either Specter and Kennedy are conducting their own foreign policy, which would be retarded, or the State Department convinced the Bush administration that it was a good idea to send these two clowns to Damascus with peace overtures. Which would be retarded.

References:
* Specter and Kennedy go on a road trip to Syria [Hot Air]
* Syrian court sentences political activist for insulting regime [YNet]

Previously:
* This Summer's War With Syria - Peace Deal Rumors Are Suspiciously Incoherent
* Iran, Hamas, And Islamic Jihad Meet In Syria To Plan Mideast Turmoil
* State Department Gets Bright Idea: Let's Screw Israel Even More By Bundling Syria Into The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process