Damascus

It used to be that American administrations, seeking Middle East stability, encouraged Israel to negotiate peace with its Arab neighbors, particularly with Syria. Now, astonishingly, the Bush administration seems to be doing the opposite. Syrian President Bashar Assad keeps saying that he wants to negotiate peace. In an interview last week with the BBC, Mr. Assad again challenged Israel to the negotiating table, saying, "It takes two to tango." He added, however, "as some say, the decision for peace now is not in Israel, it is in Washington."

On Friday, June 9, 2006 STANLEY E. DUVALL of Damascus, Maryland son of the late Gerald L. Sr. and Miriam Baublitz Duvall; brother of Gerald L. Duvall, Jr., Dana F. Duvall and Curtis K. Duvall. Also survived by three nieces, four nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends may call 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Monday, June 12 at Molesworth-Williams P.A. Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus, Maryland. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 13 at the funeral home. Interment Damascus Methodist Cemetery.

On Monday, March 6, 2006 JOHN J. GUILFOYLE of Dover, Delaware and formerly of Woodbine, Maryland beloved husband of Jean M. Guilfoyle, father of John Guilfoyle, Jr., Kerri Guilfoyle, Michael Guilfoyle and Christopher Guilfoyle; grandfather of Aidan Michael Guilfoyle, John Guilfoyle and Johanna Guilfoyle, cousin of Patricia and Samuel Fenati. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 10 at Molesworth-Williams P.A. Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus, Maryland. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 11 at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 9250 Damascus Road, Damascus, Maryland.

DAMASCUS -- For the Broadneck wrestling team, a slow start led to an uncharacteristic off-key performance in yesterday's Class 4A-3A state dual meet semifinals against La Plata. At the same time for North Carroll, it was a tough-luck ending that had the Panthers going home early against host Damascus in the other semifinal. Broadneck (20-2) dropped five of its first six bouts and then had the tight matches go the other way as La Plata came away with a 35-26 win. Damascus got a sudden third-period pin from Steve Richards (189 pounds)

On Saturday, February 4, 2006, WILLIAM ROBERT "Bob" WARFIELD of Deland, FL. and formerly of Woodbine, MD. beloved husband of Claylene Stambaugh Warfield; father of William Dennis Warfield and Brian Edward Warfield; grandfather of Rebecca, Kristen, Justin, Lauren, Lindsay and Lucas Warfield. Lovingly remembered by Holly, Chase and Jenna Johnson, Onna, Zachery and Jared Bumgardner; brother of Ann W. Mullinix, John O. Warfield Jr., H. Clark Warfield. Also survived by twelve nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.

Ex-Syrian vice president says Lebanese leader was threatened BEIRUT, LEBANON -- Former Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam, a one-time stalwart of the ruling Baath Party, said yesterday that former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri was threatened by Syria months before he was assassinated. Khaddam made the claim as he declared a formal break with President Bashar Assad in a television interview from Paris, citing corruption within the regime and its failure to reform. "Hariri was subjected to many threats from Syria.

DAMASCUS -- The last time Liberty's Brandon Gervie faced Hammond's Steve Sessa - in last year's 2A-1A state semifinals - he required overtime to win. "That wasn't convincing enough to me," said Gervie, the defending 189-pound state champion. "I couldn't wait to do it again." Gervie got his chance in yesterday's 17-team Damascus Holiday Wrestling Tournament, and his 8-4 victory over Sessa lifted Liberty over Hammond, 210-205, in a tournament victory that was the program's first of such magnitude in nine years under coach Mike Flemming.

The self-proclaimed assassins of Lebanese journalist Gibran Tueni boasted in a statement that they had broken his pen. How mistaken they are - the anti-Syrian views he expressed in the pages of his Beirut newspaper, An-Nahar, were not his alone. And his murder Monday shouldn't keep other Lebanese from demanding their rights to live freely, without interference from Syria, its agents and provocateurs. Not if Mr. Tueni is the example. The 48-year-old publisher had long protested Syria's military occupation of his home country, which began in the midst of the Lebanese civil war three decades ago. He continued his sharp attacks, even as prominent Lebanese, beginning with former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, were killed in one targeted car bombing after another this year.

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Tens of thousands of Lebanese spilled into the streets of Beirut yesterday as a funeral march for publisher and legislator Gibran Tueni turned into a political protest against Syria. The prominent newspaper magnate was assassinated in a bombing Monday morning as he was being driven to work. A columnist who served up scathing criticisms of Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs in the days when many Lebanese still tiptoed around the taboo of speaking out against Damascus, Tueni, 48, was the fourth anti-Syria figure to be killed this year.

Damascus' 5-foot-11, 215-pound Steven Anderson powered his way to 250 yards on 34 carries, two 1-yard touchdowns and another from 42 yards in lifting the Swarmin' Hornets to a 21-6 victory over Montgomery County rival Sherwood last night in the Class 4A football state title game at M&T Bank Stadium. Nick Sefcik grabbed his seventh, eighth and ninth interceptions of the year, Jimmy Shay had another, and Marc Magas converted all three extra points to secure the second win of the year over the Warriors (12-2)