Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, responded that Syria is doing everything it can to create turmoil inside Iraq and referred to statements from Gen. Ray Odierno, the U.S. commander in Iraq, to back up his position.

Syria's influence in the Middle East "comes from being a spoiler, a troublemaker, a source of mischief," said Mr. Satloff, who debated Mr. Moustapha at the university forum on Wednesday.

"Syria's main role in the [Middle East] peace process is to serve as host, patron and supporter of the most radical opponents of peace," Mr. Satloff added, referring to terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

In Iraq, he said, "there is a very serious issue of Syrian official support and facilitation for the flow of jihadis across the border to kill Americans."

Mr. Satloff quoted Gen. Odierno, who in September said, "Syria continues to allow the facilitation of foreign fighters through Syria that come both to Iraq as well as, I believe, into Afghanistan."