SPECIAL COMMENTARY
Glad He's Gone
change his bargaining stance with Israel
Unlike His Father...
Egypt, Jordan, the PLO and most of
for 20 years. He wanted all the Golan
His son and successor Bashir al-Assad,
the other active Front members
ing dong, the witch is dead.
can't possibly embark on a policy of
Heights in return for non-belligerency —
already had bowed out by either opt-
When Syrian President
not peace. Assad would not agree to
compromise with Israel before he con-
ing to make peace with Israel or just
Hafez al-Assad was buried in
open borders or trade. He always said
solidates power and knocks off a cou-
simply giving up the war option.
his home town of Qardaha
no
one
could
force
him
to
be
friendly
ple of his political foes. The Syrian
But not Assad. Not this brave, wise,
Tuesday, I couldn't help but feel a
with
the
Zionists;
the
only
negotiable
public wouldn't stand for it.
principled
leader.
He
chose
to
hang
on
happy sense that the world is now a
request
he
would
consider
was
making
a
Expect Bashir to move to open
to
an
ideological
stance
that
went
out
better place.
promise
not
to
attack
Israel.
Syrian
society to foreign investment,
with
8-track
stereos
rather
While some political lead-
For two decades, it was Israel that
loosen draconian restrictions on
than pursue policies that
ers and Middle East pundits
wasn't interested in discussing the
local business and introduce 20th
would put pita and lebane
used terms such as, "clever,"
return of the Golan. Until Rabin. The
century technology into the country
on his peoples' plates.
"tough" and "astute" to
late prime minister thought he could
(21st century equipment is still too
Assad did not do this for
describe the "Sphinx of Dam-
move the intractable Syrian dictator
expensive).
the good of the Arab world
ascus," the plain truth is that
into lessening his demands and agree-
Bashir, part of the new generation
or for the glory of Allah
Assad was nothing more than
ing
to
a
full
peace.
So
did
Barak.
They
of
thirtysomething
rulers taking over
(Assad
and
his
regime
were
a brutal dictator who failed
were
wrong.
the
helm
of
Arab
countries,
under-
secular);
he
did
so
simply
to
his country and people.
Assad, always noted for his
stands that, in today's world, money
remain in power.
Let's consult the score-
brinkmanship, took them to the verge.
talks and ideology walks.
The first thing you learn
board.
JACOB
But he never intended to cross the line
After a year or two, Bashir, who
in "Backward Dictator
When Assad seized power
SCHREIBER
unless he got more than everything for
was in diapers when his father lost the
School" is to choose an
30 years ago, Syria was a
Special to
virtually nothing. The man who, as
Golan Heights to Israel, will start fol-
enemy, blame all your trou-
third-rate country with a
the
Jewish
News
Syria's
defense
minister
lost
the
Golan
lowing the lead of Jordan, Egypt,
bles
on
it,
and
then
cut
off
third-rate army. So Assad
Heights
to
Israel
in
the
1967
War,
had
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, the
all
information
from
the
made improvements. Now,
what
Syrian
scholars
call
a
"blind
United Arab Emirates and others and
outside
world
so
your
peo-
Syria is a third-rate country
hatred" of the Jewish state.
move to become part of the interna-
ple have no clue that you are lying to
with a second-rate army.
— and depriving —
After three decades, the Syrian peo-
them. Assad did this
ple remain impoverished, the econo-
with cunning, plan-
my is still in the toilet, and the army
ning and resolve. He
is decaying.
also added good mea-
The good news? Last month, cell
sures of fear, intimi-
phones and limited Internet access
dation and- torture.
were introduced in Syria, but only to a
Assad's only real
select thousand or so members of the
accomplishment was
ruling and business elite.
staying in power,
For 30 years, Assad befouled his
something he was
economy and precluded his people
roundly respected for
from making a decent living. Using
even by his enemies.
outdated ideological slogans like "pan-
But last I checked,
Arabism" and the "Zionist threat" to
this isn't as great a
fool his people into following his lead,
feat in the Middle
he squandered most of the country's
East of 2000 as it was
resources to build security forces
back in the wild days
designed to challenge Israel — and
of the '50s through
protect his rule.
'70s (see the longevi-
ty records of Egypt-
Embracing rejection
ian President Hosni
But give Assad his due. While his
Mubarak, PLO
tanks and air force were routinely
Chairman Yasser
spanked by the IDF, they proved
Arafat, dictators Hus-
effective against his own people in
sein of Iraq and
1982, when Assad's army blanket-
Quaddafi of Libya,
bombed the Syrian city of Hama to
and deceased Jordan- A Syrian man stands by a bus station decorated with portraits of the late Syrian President Hafez al-
quell an uprising, leaving as many as
ian King Hussein).
20,000 citizens dead.
Assad in downtown Damascus.
And when Assad died, he was the
What Peace?
unquestioned leader of the "Rejection-
And he could not stomach the
tional community, rather than opting
In
his final years before being sum-
ist Front" — a mantle to which he
thought of making peace with the
to terrorize it as did his father.
moned to Hell, one may ask, didn't
aspired ever since taking the helm in
Zionists. Heck, he couldn't even
That will mean better relations
Assad have a change of heart and pur-
Danascus.
stomach the thought of his vice
with the West, and a more open mind
sue peace with Israel? Wasn't he on the
Unfortunately, he was also the only
president shaking hands with Israeli
concerning peace with Israel.
verge of reaching agreements with
remaining member of this Front.
representatives during recent peace
There are no guarantees that Bashir
Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak? No
negotiations.
will prove wiser or more open to peace
and Yes.
Jacob Schreiber is editor of the
Which means that Assad's death is
than his father. But he certainly can't
Knowledgeable Assad watchers will
Atlanta Jewish Times, sister publication
good
for
peace.
be any worse.
argue
that
the
Syrian
leader
didn't
of the Detroit- Jewish News.
Atlanta
D
❑
jig
6/16
2000
33