Bashar Assad
Photo: AFP
Don't touch Assad
Syria's stable dictatorship is better than Islamic fundamentalism
Dear George,
I've noticed lately you've decided to re-adopt your hard-nosed cowboy image, imposing order on the Wild West.
It's not that I don't like Westerns; "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is one of my favorite movies.
But it seems to me that our lives here are a bit more complicated, and I suspect that if you keep getting involved in the goings-on here, the era of Westerns will be lost from the world and we will be left with terribly scary horror movies. And believe me, it will be a movie.
I think your, and our, problem, is that you've never been strong in history, or knowledge in general. I remember the time they asked you on TV about world capitals, and you failed the test miserably.
Since then, you've become president, and if we are to be just a little bit honest, you should know that I've never taken too much confidence from you.
But while others have suffered through your simplistic policies, they have never bothered me.
But now, they are making huge steps in our direction, and I worry that your advisors don't quite understand exactly what you are getting us into.
No Arab country, including the Syria whose leaders you are already passing judgment on, was here 100 years ago. They are all young countries, with borders established over bridge games between the leaders of Britain and France.
To the anger of the kids who wanted a united Arab country from Morocco to Iraq, the white man filled up the space that was once the Ottoman Empire, with regional kingdoms, in order to reward the locals who lent support during the world wars.
As you know, the white man excelled in culture, manners and stealing the treasures of its colonies, but never really understood the details of the places he conquered.
In this instance, too, he failed to consider the children's desires, and I've got no problem with this.
Religion stronger than borders
You should know that our joint history and strong national and religious feelings are stronger than neat borders drawn up with a ruler. This is especially true if the West held the pencil.
And as long as you are reading this letter: in every Arab country there are dozens of competing fundamentalist groups, of the type that sprouts the roots of terror, in central authority, in which they see the hand of the West, and rebel.
They, too, can't stand Assad or the successors to the Hashemite Prince Faisal, and they, too, would like to topple them.
But as opposed to you, they aspire to break the national divisions created by the West and to create a huge state, to be ruled by Islamic law; a country that the West will not be able to live with in peace.
Countries like Syria, Jordan, Iraq and others joined the symbolic Arab union, but the secret to their continued existence is their unique national stresses.
Many options
Toppling a dictator means dismantling the framework and gives Jihad organizations a chance to raise their heads.
Bush, you've got many options. Don't rush into anything. President Assad, enlist some sanctions, and we would certainly not object to a peace agreement that leaves the Golan Heights in our hands.
This time, don’t be right. Be wise.
Listen to me, Bush. In light of your success in maintaining quiet in Afghanistan and Iraq, I am asking you – no, I'm pleading with you – don’t raise your hand against the Assad family.
Lesser of two evils
I also don't like them; I also think they are trouble-makers.
But in light of your rich experience, I would prefer Assad's stable dictatorship to the chaos of Islamic radicals who would use the chance to further their dream of a huge Islamic state.
Believe me, such a country would adopt al-Qaeda and the Moslem Brotherhood, would support terrorism and who-knows-what-else, perhaps even reaching millions of Muslims deep in the heart of Europe and America.
More than that, before it pushes forward, it will try to settle old scores with the Zionist entity that I live in and I worry about.
Because at the end of the movie, the cowboy jumps on the horse and rides into the sunset. But we will have to live with whatever "new world order" you create.
