Unwillingness to Change

After months of stalling, Syria is beginning to realize the seriousness of the US demands. With this realization comes fear and hysteria as we saw yesterday in the latest verbal attack against the United States and its new policy in the Middle East by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa and Syrian Prime Minister Mustapha Miro.

As reported by the AFP, Miro “asked countries in the region such as Turkey, Iran, and Syria to strengthen ties between them in order to resist American efforts to reshape the Middle East”. As for Al-Shara he labeled the US administration as “violent and foolish” saying: “There is no doubt that this American administration is exceptional since all the similar ones in the past were never at this level of violence and foolishness” (An-Nahar, July 28, 2003).

Obviously, the Syrians have come to realize that there are no more deals to be made and no more avenues to take to try and survive another day. No matter how strenuously Buthaina Shaaban, the Baath regime’s spokeswoman, tries to portray the superficial changes in Syria as valid and continues to find justifications for the occupation of Lebanon, the day of reckoning is drawing near and that’s what is making the Syrian regime nervous and on a desperate offensive.

In contrast, what makes this US administration exceptional is its commitment to reject the old ways with which Syria had been dealt throughout the decades. No longer will it tolerate endless fruitless dialogue, pragmatic appeasement, and deal-making that some continue to advocate to this day, while Syria continues on its path of abject human rights violations, advocacy for violence and terrorism as legitimate tools to resolving conflicts, development of chemical and biological weapons, and its illegal occupation of Lebanon. In the own words of President Bush, the time has come for this administration to hold Syria accountable, and the administration and President Bush are urged to do so by supporting the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. Hearings for this bill are scheduled for September, and it has to date garnered a two-thirds majority of the Congress in the form of co-sponsors.

When faced with unwavering pressure and tangible instruments of accountability, Syria is showing its true colors. From the “obedient” regime that thought it could once again take the US for a ride by pretending to implement change, it is now revealing itself the true bully that it is by protesting, yelling and screaming, and proving its unwillingness to change.

Again, we urge the Administration to support the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act holding the Syrian regime accountable once and for all for its support of terrorism, acquisition of WMDs, and its occupation of Lebanon.

Long Live Free Lebanon