By Andrew L. Jaffee

50% of terrorism enters Iraq from Syria, and we have evidence. …

The Interior Ministry and the Ministry of State for National Security gave them [the Syrians] evidence about those who are conspiring and are sending car bombs. We gave them the numbers of their apartments and the buildings where they live.

- Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi government spokesman

Not surprising, as a democratic Iraq threatens the Syrian dictatorship’s tenuous hold on power, but can the Maliki government actually furnish this evidence? A smoking gun would certainly embarrass Bashar al-Assad, and enable the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies to further isolate his regime. Hard evidence would also lay the groundwork for possible targeted military strikes against Damascus. The Iraqi government’s claim is significant, and extremely useful — that is, unless it is just bluster.