Syria hoping for warmer U.S. relations

DAMASCUS, Syria -- "Syria's policy during more than a year of isolation by Western countries has been constant: Stick it out and hope the other side bends.

Now, a week after an attack on the American Embassy, the regime apparently is betting that violence will be one more factor that could make the United States blink first.

Syria has portrayed the surprise attack on the embassy last Tuesday by suspected Islamic militants as proof that American policies in the region are not working and are only fueling extremism.

The answer, it argues, is for Washington to stop trying to force Syria to change and instead to open a dialogue - giving Damascus the chance to press its demands."