In a move reminiscent of the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, when the U.S. administration of George W. Bush claimed that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction, similar accusations are now being directed at Syria's President Bashar Assad. The Bush administration has accused Syria of seeking North Korean assistance in developing nuclear technology intended to be used for military purposes.

U.S. intelligence claims to be in possession of a videotape and photographs purportedly showing proof that Syria was developing a "well concealed" nuclear reactor until it was destroyed last September by what was at first described as a mysterious Israeli airstrike. Initially, both Syria and Israel remained silent regarding the raid. But on Thursday, U.S. lawmakers were shown the "proof" by the Central Intelligence Agency behind a closed door meeting on Capitol Hill.

Syria was quick to deny the charges, calling the U.S. accusations a "campaign of false allegations" intended to justify the Israeli raid of Sept. 6, 2007, which a communiqué issued by the Syrian Embassy in Washington stated that the "current U.S. administration may have helped execute."

The communiqué further calls on the United States "to act responsibly and desist from creating further crises in the Middle East." Imad Mustapha, Syria's ambassador to Washington called the whole thing "a ridiculous story."

The Bush White House does not share the Syrian ambassador's view. A White House spokeswoman said "the Syrian regime must come clean before the world," adding that the construction of the reactor was "a dangerous and potentially destabilizing development for the region and the world."

The United States intends to call on U.N. inspectors to investigate the destroyed facility.

If indeed Syria has nothing to hide it can easily preempt further escalation of the crisis by inviting not only U.N. observers, but members of the diplomatic corps as well as representatives of the international press to visit the site in question. Such a move should quickly and decisively allay further allegations that Damascus is engaged in a nuclear program.

However, that solution seems far too logical to be applied in the Middle East where events tend to prefer a more convoluted course. If recent history is any guide to go by, chances are Damascus will stand firm, refusing to allow access to the site and Washington will continue to pressure the Syrian regime. Be it a ridiculous story or a dangerous development, all this does not augur well.