The Syria Accountability Act of 2003 had as its purpose: 

To halt Syrian support for terrorism, end its occupation of Lebanon, stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, cease its illegal importation of Iraqi oil, and hold Syria accountable for its role in the Middle East, and for other purposes.

Any of these sound like familiar reasons for this Administration to go to war?  But George Bush knows very well that the political climate in this country will not support him in starting another preemptive war in the Middle East at this time.  Is it his strategy to try to create that political climate by provoking Syria into overt aggression against our troops?

The Syria Accountability Act has an escalating series of sanctions that may be (many already have been) imposed as Syria is said to be out of compliance with UN resolutions and international norms and expectations.  Covert military action is consistent with the escalation of sanctions which have been going on since the passage of the Act in May, 2003.

Condeleezza Rice recently refused to rule out military intervention in Syria (or Iran) when she was in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:  "I think you'll understand fully that the president retains those powers in the war on terrorism and in the war in Iraq." 

Why is the information coming out now that a special-missions unit is already operating inside Syria?  Just good journalism from the intrepid Sy Hersh?  Or is the political climate being prepared already?