The White House signals that the time has come to repeal the “Caesar Act” – the sanctions regime that has blocked Syria's reconstruction for 6 years. In practice, the final word is not President Trump's but that of one person in Congress - Brian Mast.
Two days ago, Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of Trump's closest political allies, met in Washington with Syrian President al-Ashara. This was not a ceremonial meeting. They sat down for a long dinner, discussing war, peace, terror, reconstruction, and the U.S.
Mast, the pro-Israeli who lost both legs as a soldier in Afghanistan, said after the meeting: “We used to be enemies. I asked him why we are no longer enemies?” Al-Ashara replied that he wants “to open a new page, strengthen the economy, fight extremism, and build stability together with the U.S.”
Someone present at the meeting said Mast listened, took notes but has not yet changed his position and therefore will not advance the legislation in his committee. This is dramatic, because without a full repeal of the Caesar Act, foreign banks will not enter Syria, nor will American construction and infrastructure companies, and therefore extensive reconstruction cannot take place.