Syria Raid's Long Buildup

U.S. officials tell the Associated Press that they had to launch a special forces raid into Syria, because a top-level Al Qaeda operative "was about to carry out an attack in Iraq.

Maybe so. But the push to get that operative, Abu Ghadiya, began many, many months ago.

Back in May, Laura Rozen reported that "the U.S. government was using stepped up channels to try to persuade Syria to turn over" Abu Ghadiya.

A group assembled at the US government’s request "concluded," I wrote, "’that the US needed to send a message requesting Damascus’ assistance on Abu Ghadiyah. But it should not be seen by Damascus as an American message.’ Ideas were floated to ask the Turks, or the French to play the intermediary. ‘A request will be made to the Iraqis to ask the Syrians for Abu Ghadiya’s extradition.’"

Apparently, Syria did not come through.

[Video: Alleged Syrian footage of the raid]