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From Les Blumenthal in our D.C. bureau

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, may find himself in the middle of the Middle East peace process.

CBS news is reporting the Washington Democrat is leading a delegation of House Armed Services Committee members to Syria. The report said the delegation was dispatched by the Obama administration and will meet with senior Syrian officials. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus confirmed the delegation was on its way.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is hoping for a thaw in Syrian-U.S. relations after years of all but being ignored by former President Bush. Syria could play a critical role in brokering a Middle East peace treaty as it has links to Palestinian, Iraqi and Lebanese interests.