Long article in the Dar Al Hayat, just a few nuggets:
Syria has turned herself into cannon fodder in the campaigns directed against her during the American presidential election battle-a result of her miscalculations in the Lebanese presidential elections. She has led herself into an international trap that will be hard to get out of now that her presence and control in Lebanon has entered the domain of the UN Security Council following a French-American initiative. The miscalculations of Syria's leadership regarding the consequences of her excesses in subjecting the Lebanese political scene to Syrian expectations has led to a rare European-American joint counter-effort that could likely materialize into a precedent-setting international resolution against her.
| Once that happens, boy, y'r toast! Just ask... ummm... |
Syria's miscalculations have also provided the United States with an important gateway from which to monitor and anticipate Syrian positions in the entire Middle East region, particularly her positions towards Iraq, Iran, Palestinian organizations, and Hizbollah in Lebanon-threatening her with measures that could be enforced by means of a Security Council resolution and with international blessings.
| I love it when a plan comes together. |
Until recently, the unofficial reactions coming from international quarters have warned against the extremism of the hawks and neo-conservatives and the dangers of their plans for Syria should George W. Bush be re-elected. There was an almost spontaneous and unanimous international objection to the targeting of Syria and a kind of support for Damascus in the face of the campaign against her.
| That would be the F6 key on the Arab League's official press release processor... |
Such was the case until the Syrian leadership committed a fatal mistake in its role in the Lebanese presidential elections-the first mistake of its kind since Bashar al-Assad became president. The mistake was not only an act of contempt and an affront to the Lebanese Constitution-to the ministers, deputies, and all those who were summoned to Damascus to be informed of Syria's decision to extend Lebanese president Emile Lahoud's term even if it required a forced constitutional amendment. The mistake was also one of miscalculating the consequences of alienating France and the United States and challenging them by crossing the red lines and degrading the Lebanese Constitution and amending it for narrow political expediencies.
| Takes a lot to put La Belle France and the USA on the same sheet of music. Not that it'll last long... |
And to the extent that the Security Council draft resolution is of French and American making, with overwhelming European support, then Damascus has put itself in a predicament that will be hard to overcome.
| Time to call in the Arab League again, and then point with alarm at the Zionists, of course... |
She has given American and Israeli extremism the greatest gift of all as a result of her own extremism in seeking sole control over the Lebanese political agenda.
Amidst the American presidential elections and to Republican and Democrat alike, Syria now finds herself being held up as a prime example of a predator nation preying on another's sovereignty. The extremists in the Republican Party have never lacked the desire to place Syria on the list of nations to be punished, by military force if necessary and via Israel if permitted.
| It's my guess we'll take Iran apart first. Syria is to Iran as Lebanon is to Syria. Once Iran's been toasted, Syria and Lebanon cease to be problems... |
Those same extremists would have liked to conclude the Iraq campaign by striking Syria, but they stopped short of doing so after a decision not to engage in unnecessary wars right before the presidential elections. Syria is next in line for a military strike on the extremist agenda, as is Iran.
| Making a list, checking it twice..... |
| Like I say, I think we'll bypass Syria. Iran's gone off the deep end, not even trying to conceal their nuke program anymore... |
Until now Iran has in typical fashion avoided committing mistakes that would provide Israel or extremist hawks and neo-conservatives with the excuse to implement their long-hoped-for agendas. Iran possesses political sophistication and wisdom and understands how to gauge international indicators.
| I think they need to send those gauges in for recalibration. |
The Syrian official position is that the Security Council acted outside the dictates of its authority and intervened in the internal affairs of Lebanon and infringed upon the latter's bilateral relations with Syria. This position lacks international support and will not have international protection. Syria is much better off admitting that she made a mistake and would be wise to correct the wrongs it committed as pertains to the Lebanese presidential elections. It is in Syria's interest to consider seriously withdrawing her forces from Lebanon and severing her ties to radical organizations accused of terrorism.
| They should, but they won't. |
Regardless of the results of the American presidential elections, the next president will surely have inherited a Security Council resolution that will present him with numerous options for actions against Syria-including measures that might go beyond what is rational.
| Why, it's almost like it's part of a plan, or something. |
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