February 16, 2005, Proactivity cometh before the regime change?
I haven't commented at all on the assassination-by-bombing of former Lebanese PM and billionaire Rafik Hariri, but I will give you this interesting and sensible editorial from the Star of Lebanon.
It suggests, quite simply, that the Lebanese and Syrian governments (which are, of course, Siamese twins, with Syria the elder and far stronger twin, as acknowledged by the hometown newspaper) do something radically different, such as engaging the international community to assist in the investigation to show that this wasn't a Syrian wet job, and maybe bring themselves more into line with the international community. The less isolated they are, the less likely the rest of the world would stand by in the event of an act of American-led aggression toward them (the Star doesn't say this, though it is a subtext.)
Of course, given that it probably WAS a syrian wet job, don't expect the Star's sensible suggestions to be implemented. Another theory is that Israel had a hand on this to destabilize their friends to the north, but I have seen no evidence of this.
The Middle East is a tough neighborhood. As sad as this event is, the big news is Israel's working with Abbas to pull out of Gaza. This assassination, alas, is just another day in the Middle East...
Comments
I guess my favorite explanation is too conspiracy-theory-ish for you, TD--that the bombing was actually carried out (or at least facilitated) by the U.S. to make a case against Syria. Syria being part of the Axis of Evil and all that . . . . Elliot Abrams and his drug- and gun-running buddies being ascendant in the administration and all that (this was the sort of thing those guys used to get up to in Central and South America) . . . . Iraq being not quite the popular success that they had hoped, wanting to goose public opinion to make sure we have good excuses for the coming incursions into Iran and Syria, and to make sure that the anti-Syria UN resolutions are passed (so that we'll have future excuses for incursions into Syria) . . . .
Posted by mamayo at February 16, 2005 1:46 PM
The Axis of Evil TM is Iran, Iraq and North Korea; Syria has occasionally been singled out on its own, but has not achieved A of E status.
Methinks you're overthinking this one. We don't need no stinkin' justifications anymore: the Imperium has been reelected. The only limitations on its actions are what it can get away with: going to the UN to shore up Tony Blair is no longer necessary.
Syria is just bad. We don't need to set up an assassination of an ex-Lebanese Premier to prove that.
And what do you mean Iraq is not quite the popular success that they had hoped. We removed the brutal dictator. We brought them democracy and freedom. Don't you listen to Rush, watch Fox and read Instapundit?
Posted by the talking dog at February 16, 2005 3:15 PM
Of course you are right about A of E--I was thinking of the neocon plan for global domination, which has always featured Syria as #2 or #3 target after Iraq (Iran being the other element of the trifecta). Regarding Iraq popular success, silly me--I knew there must be a reason why W's approval rating is so high.
Posted by mamayo at February 16, 2005 3:26 PM