Monday May 4, 2009

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday, in an interview with France-3 television, Syrian President Bashar Assad praised the new Obama diplomacy and offered some tips for future success.

Assad recommended that the United States talk directly to Hezbollah and Hamas because they are, according to Assad's description, essential pieces in the greater Middle East and the conflict with Israel.

More remarkable than the content of Assad's comments was the tone.
It's as if Syria was an insider, as if a friend is offering insight to the United States on how to deal with a complicated issue via the French airwaves.

Syria is not a friend.
Syria cannot be trusted.
Syria is the farthest thing from a resource on this issue.
Syria sponsors Hezbollah and partially supports Hamas, by propping up Hezbollah and Hamas they are propping themselves up.

Israel's analysts are doing their best in trying to understand the motivation behind this US shift towards Syria.
Syria has not changed, so why has the US attitude toward Syria so changed?
I take that back, Syria has changed, Syria has clamped down and become even more repressive over these last few weeks.
What's with the new attitude, President Obama ?

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