After 20 terrorist-free years (apart from a few isolated incidents), has terrorism come home?

Earlier this week, there were a number of clashes between foreign terrorists connected with Iraq, and Syrian security services. One on Homs, and others in Damascus.

Jordan has asked for Syria to deport two men arrested in Damascus on Monday after a gun-fight. Jordan's Foriegn Minister Aouni Yerfas said that they are wanted in connection with terrorist activities. Others are said to be former bodyguards of Saddam Hussein.

And today two more terrorist suspects have been arrested in Damascus - one of them Jordanian. They were both involved in Monday's gun-fight.

So is Syria finally doing something about terrorism within its borders, just as the US has been demanding?

In other news Bashar has met Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority. It marks a thaw in relations between the late Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement and the Syrian government. For years Syria broke contact with the PA accusing it of selling out. Syria supported rejectionist groups like Hamas and Jihad. But in the past year these groups have been forced out of Syria, under American pressure. So is this the natural development - support for the US-sponsored Palestinian Authority. Has Syria changed sides?