Article

2005-09-19 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kuwaiti paper claims Syria ready to cut deal with France over Hariri investigation

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Posted by Fred 2005-09-19 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 No offense Fred, but the argument that the alleged statements can't be true because nobody talks like that may not necessarily hold water in the Middle East. Look at all these al-Qaeda communiques, or how Qadaffi acts, for instance.

I'm guessing the love of melodrama comes with the tendency towards authoritarianism, rather like fascination with secret identities and assumed names among jihadis. Is there anybody in the Middle East who doesn't have an alias?

Posted by Dan Darling">Dan Darling 2005-09-19 00:05|| http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com]">[http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com] 2005-09-19 00:05|| Front Page Top

#2 "Is there anybody in the Middle East who doesn't have an alias?"

I don't. Really.

Posted by Abdullah bin Jihad abu Ramadan al Andalus 2005-09-19 00:16|| 2005-09-19 00:16|| Front Page Top

#3 I am surprised how far this investigation has gone and conclude they must have some pretty damming evidence. I wouldn't discount a tape of Assad making threats.

Posted by phil_b 2005-09-19 00:31|| 2005-09-19 00:31|| Front Page Top

#4 The Frenchies are, of course, always the weak link in any ~~kind of diplomatic~~ initiative.

Minor correction.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2005-09-19 07:35|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2005-09-19 07:35|| Front Page Top

#5 But Baby Assad has no money---how's he going to bribe the French?

Posted by gromgoru 2005-09-19 08:59|| 2005-09-19 08:59|| Front Page Top

#6 syria cuts lots of deals. they just don't stick to 'em.

Posted by PlanetDan">PlanetDan 2005-09-19 09:54|| 2005-09-19 09:54|| Front Page Top

#7 Dan,

That was why I had to add the "on the other hand." If the report is true, if the tape exists, Assad should definitely change his alias to "Abu Dumbshit."

Posted by Fred 2005-09-19 10:53|| 2005-09-19 10:53|| Front Page Top

#8 I say take the deal. When the US verifies all parts are in place and working (which will never happen) we don't go after Assad. It would be worth it just to see Syria acknowledge Israel and give up on Golan. Must be damn good evidence if they are even talking about a deal like this.

Posted by NYer4wot 2005-09-19 11:34|| 2005-09-19 11:34|| Front Page Top

#9 Has anyone else noticed the resemblance Bashar has to a younger De Gaulle at Vichy? Maybe the French would put him up in Paris. This actually sounds more like a melodramatic plot of Hezbollah to get rid of him so they can take over. Blame it on Assad and someone, anyone would take care of the problem.

Posted by Danielle 2005-09-19 12:03|| 2005-09-19 12:03|| Front Page Top

#10 "He has a wife, you know..."
-- Pontius Pilate

Posted by mojo">mojo 2005-09-19 13:33|| 2005-09-19 13:33|| Front Page Top

#11 "to hold diplomatic relations with Israel, recognize it as a state and renounce its calls for regaining the Golan Heights."

Give up Golan. Yeah right. In other news, President Bush submitted a plan for national health insurance, saying Hilary Clintons didnt go far enough, Howard Dean called for the US to adopt a flat tax in place of the current system, and Sharon and Abbas nearly came to blows, each insisting the other take Jerusalem.

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-09-19 14:11|| 2005-09-19 14:11|| Front Page Top

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