The Syrian press reacted to Cindy Sheehan’s melodramatic announcement that she was leaving the anti-war movement with gushing articles about Mama Moonbat’s courage and honor. Who would ever have guessed that the Baathist dictatorship would approve of Sheehan’s activities?

Presumably, the Syrian regime read her letter at Daily Kos.

Syrian Minister of Expatriate Affairs Dr. Buthayna Sha’ban praised Sheehan’s activism and expressed sorrow at her retirement from public life. In an op-ed in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat - also posted on www.syria-news.com, which is affiliated with the Syrian regime - she called on “all the honorable people in the world” to join forces and continue Sheehan’s struggle:

“Cindy Sheehan has long been considered an example of how a [single] person [can] lead a campaign to change the outlook and position of a strong regime, like the American one, and she has long been a beacon for all those who defend liberty and justice in the world. The news of her retirement [from public life] caused [us] to lose hope, [but] when I read her clearly reasoned letter of resignation [from the anti-war movement], I understood the extent of her difficulty. …

“Cindy Sheehan’s letter makes it clear that she received all the backup and support [she needed] when she was regarded as a Democrat fighting against the Republican Party’s outlook on the war. But when she left the Democratic Party, and defined the war in Iraq not as a matter of the political left vs. the political right, but as a matter of right vs. wrong - then her real problems began, for in a democratic regime, you are permitted to voice opposition [to the regime], but you are not allowed to expose the true nature of the regime and what it really stands for.

“The path blazed by Cindy Sheehan is a very important one, because it was meant to bring justice, respect for the human spirit, and awareness that what is happening in Iraq is a crime against humanity. [Sheehan’s activism] could have a real impact not only on American’s policy in Iraq, but on its policy in the Middle East [at large] and perhaps even in the [whole] world.”

Meanwhile, in Syrian government daily Al-Thawra, columnist Muhammad Khayr Al-Jamali says that another way to have a “real impact on American policy” is for the mujahideen in Iraq to kill as many US troops as possible:

“For over three years, the [internal] debate [in the U.S.] has been going in circles, without bringing any change in the policy of the [American] regime or ending the American entanglement in Iraq. The conclusion is that the debate itself - [which was originally] aimed at correcting the mistakes of the current American administration and reshaping America’s relations with the Middle East and the rest of the world, far from the logic of power and from the policy of threats - has gradually degenerated into [empty] election polemics - a prelude to the presidential election that will take place in over two years [sic]. The transformation of this debate into part of the election [campaign] has eliminated any possibility [of resolving] the crisis… in Iraq.

“For the debate to open up positive horizons that will hasten the end of the American occupation in Iraq and extricate America from the crisis and its consequences, the Iraqis must continue their resistance and increase the losses to the occupation [forces]. The Americans [themselves] have no [choice] but to expose the deceitful policy of their government - which was the basis for its failing war in Iraq - and to work to depose President Bush before the end of his term. This [move should be carried out] based on the harm he has caused to America’s interests, economy, status, reputation and credibility.”