HEY, MAYBE THINGS AREN’T GOING SO BADLY AFTER ALL:

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) – Doorbells and phones went unanswered at the Damascus offices of Palestinian militant groups the United States accuses of terrorism. Instead of veteran campaigners ready to rail against Israel for hours, visitors were greeted by posters of Palestinian “martyrs” on the walls outside – and silence.

All signs pointed to what neither the Palestinians nor the Syrians will acknowledge: Syria has bowed to U.S. pressure and curbed the radicals it has hosted for years.

Palestinians protesting against Hamas, terrorist offices in Syria closed — well, it’s a start!