Little Green Footballs - Assad Seethes, Whines

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Mon, Mar 10, 2003 at 11:34:30 am PST

The “President” of Syria is warning Arabs not to befriend the US. Apparently, he feels we don’t keep our agreements.

"I warned the Arab rulers and told them don't pave the way for the U.S. as they are doing now because their turn will come next," Assad was quoted as telling a group of Lebanese officials and party leaders from among people who joined demonstrators in Damascus Sunday to support his anti-war stands.

Assad said everyone who "befriended and relied on the U.S. was abandoned by her at the end." He cited late Iranian Shah Reza Pahlavi who was deposed by the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and the Iraqi Kurds.

He said the first thing Phalavi told late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat when the shah sought shelter in Cairo "don't ever befriend the U.S."

Assad said the Arab rulers warned him that being an enemy to the United States was dangerous and he replied "it seems that if its enmity is dangerous then its friendship is fatal."

He said in that case being hostile to the United States was better than being its friend.

Huh? A Ba'athist tyrant speaking of the Shah in somewhat positive tones? I thought Pahlavi was hated in those circles; but I guess they wouldn’t be Arabs without the ability to hold dozens of contradictory opinions simultaneously.

Digging into Bashar’s statements in search of specific examples of how befriending the US has harmed Arabs, we find this:

He disclosed details of a meeting with U.S. Assistant State Secretary William Burns in Damascus, saying he asked what the United States was proposing to the Arabs.

"In 1991, the Arabs were in the alliance against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and you promised us peace in the Middle East and to establish a Palestinian state," Assad recalled. "After more than 10 years, nothing of these promises were fulfilled."

He said Burns replied by confirming that the U.S. promises the Arabs this time to establish peace and resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"No one takes into account these promises after what happened after the liberation of Kuwait and since the Madrid conference," Assad told Burns. "They are nothing but promises. Washington does not want to offer anything and has nothing to give in return. We do not believe promises anymore and therefore there is no reason that the Arabs give the U.S. what it wants."

See, that’s the problem right there. When we promise to work for peace in the Middle East and a Palestinian state, the words mean what they say. When the Baby Bashar says “peace,” he means the peace of the grave for Israel—and a Palestinian state in its place.

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91 comments

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Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:41:28am

Baby Assad probably just noticed he's on the list...

hans ze beeman Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:43:48am

I'm so sick of this fundamentalist asymmetry. You cannot befriend a snake - you always have to be wary. Easier to cage it. You can sleep with both eyes closed.

Btw, what about Iran? They HAVE some real uranium equipment and are far ahead of Saddam in nuclear technology... and they have mullahs... I think they might be even more dangerous than Saddam...

d Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:44:40am

Does anybody, including himself, take this clown seriously? What a nasty little shit.

plink Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:45:22am

hey, does anybody have the link to the website that listed all the resolutions against israel that shows that they've complied or completed nearly all of them?

Raj Against The Machine Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:47:12am

Assad's been straddling the fence for too long. He'll tell us what we want to hear, then he'll tell Lebanese officials (read - Syrian sock puppets) what they want to hear.

The hour of reckoning approaches. Will you be riding the strong horse, Bashir, or be removing some Scuds from your back?

selpaw Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:49:50am

#1 Caton

Baby Assad probably just noticed he's on the list...

: - ))
That man is a devil. Worse than daddy.

Off topic:
Just heard the Brit's are talking about 'possibly'
extending the Iraq deadline?
Maybe I ate too many sinai's today but I
am feeling a bit queasy over this news.
Do you think G.B could back out?

selpaw Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:53:10am

France will veto no matter what!
Latest news.

Glen Wishard Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:54:13am

He cited late Iranian Shah Reza Pahlavi who was deposed by the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and the Iraqi Kurds.

I think something useful can be gleaned from Junior's childish prattle:

1. Don't ever trust Jimmy Carter.
2. We've let the Kurds down in the past, and we should find some way to make it up to them. Any ideas?
3. It's too bad we let the ayatollahs take Iran. Maybe we should do something about that. Any ideas?

ploome Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:57:24am

plink...

[Link: www.google.com...]

ploome Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:59:13am

selpaw...

every day Bush delays taking out Saddam, makes Saddam stronger, means more horror for OUR soldiers...

the weather is horrendous...and will only get worse..

making me sick

wordwarp Mon, Mar 10, 2003 9:59:27am

Syria is next, according to one of Debka's sources, who blogs under the name of Faust at albawaba.com.

The stuff about Syria is towards the end of that entry. If you liked that, his most recent post, "Humans are vile creatures." may interest you too.

Jroth Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:00:05am

Was he a dentist or optometrist?
I think it was the later, but the name The Dentist From Damascus would be a cool nick.

scott w. Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:03:24am

Isn't it a little late for this type of rhetoric?

I suspect that intelligence will reveal Syria's role in hiding some of Saddam's weapons. I'm sure he has some real fears about the future of his own little tyranny. Didn't they just pull a large amount of troops out of Lebanon? After knocking out Saddam, we are going to have a lot of troops in the same neighborhood as Hezbollah. What a great follow-up that would be.

By the way, CBS/60 Minutes did a little puff piece on Qatar last nite. Are they truly as progressive as CBS made them out to be? Stance on Israel?

RightIsRight Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:06:49am

OT I just heard this funny one:

Saddam Hussein and his chauffeur were rolling down the highway when suddenly they hit a pig crossing the road. They killed it instantly.
Saddam tells his driver: "Go to da farm over dere and hexplain to da honer of da pig what appened." One hour later, Saddam sees his driver coming back from the farm, his clothes all wrinkled, a bottle of wine in
one hand and a cigar in the other. "What appen to you?" He asks. "Well, the farmer gave me a bottle of wine, his wife, the cigar and their 19 year old daughter made wild passionate love to me." "My God! What did
you tell dem?" asked President Hussein. The driver answered: " Good evening, I am Saddam Hussein's chauffeur and I have just killed the pig."

selpaw Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:09:40am

#10 ploome

every day Bush delays taking out Saddam, makes Saddam stronger, means more horror for OUR soldiers...

You are so right.
The longer we wait the worse it will be.

Trying to analyze all of this but nothing
fits.

james Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:10:15am

OT:
Fox News says "Chirac: France Will Veto 'No Matter What'"

Well, duh.

Jeff Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:17:32am

I hope little Bashar is right, and Syria IS next.

dennisw Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:19:17am

QUOTED:

The next year, 628, Muhammed beseiged Khaybar, a Jewish oasis where survivors from the Nadir had also settled. He invited the leaders to Medina for talks. On their way there they were ambushed and massacred, to which Muhammed commented: "War is deception."

selpaw Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:21:47am

Chirac says

War will break up int'l terror

thenIraq will use chem and bio against our soldiers

How utterly stupid are those statements?
One, I thought iraq didn't have bio and chem weapons?

Two, now chirac is threatening the U.S.
Well, he most likely knows...after all he is in bed with the worst devils of them all.

A Berman Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:21:48am

I've seen this argument before. It's legit as far as it goes, which is American friendships with dictators.

The US will eventually betray any ally that is not a democracy. We've done it in the past and we will continue to do so.

The Shah is a perfect example. We might have staved off the whole Jihadist revival of the 80's and 90's had Jimmy Carter supported the Shah, but we didn't. On the basis of human rights, we didn't support a dictator against a popular uprising. Of course we got the Ayatollah Khomeni as a result, but so it goes.
Similarly with Iraq-- we could easily have supported Saddam Hussein after he invaded Kuwait. But of course, that would have gone against our interest in human rights.

gymnast Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:23:32am

#12, Dentist

hans ze beeman Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:24:09am

Iran is possibly more dangerous than Iraq, as to what has been discovered...

pilgrim Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:27:20am

Sounds like Assad wants to make a deal with the U.S. What is he asking for? He should just come out and say to the U.S. "I'll give up the terrorists in my country if you don't kill me, but if we make this deal I have to pretend that I hate you so the terrorists don't kill me."

4th Texas Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:30:39am

A Ba'athist praising the late Shah?

Ba'ath ideology states that Jews and Persians (Iranians) are to be considered sub-human.

Talk about saying anything to support your point.

Assad, you next, because of your daddy.

grendel Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:31:33am

OT:

Not sure if this was ever posted here but Britain convicted El Faisal for soliciting murder.

[Link: www.worldtribune.com...]

my favorit quote:
After the verdict, Muhammed Abdul-Mutakabbir, one of the convicted cleric's supporters, said bringing el Faisal to trial was "an injustice. Because Sheikh el-Faisal has been convicted, so has the Koran," Islam's holy book.

nextcube Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:32:54am

#19 selpaw:

Those circular arguments are used all over by the "anti-war" (which should really read "Anti-Bush") crowd...we can't invade Iraq because then Hussein might use the CBR weapons he doesn't have. We can't take action against terrorists because it will cause terrorism. We can't take action against Iraq because it might distract us from the war on terrorism which we're winning. Round and around.

Chrees Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:34:21am

"He said in that case being hostile to the United States was better than being its friend."

Looks like he has watched "The Mouse That Roared" one too many times...

Allah-Puncher Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:35:21am

Of course the United States is never consistent in its foreign policy. Allies who we are in bed with one moment will be discarded the next. Its because our leadership changes every four years. That's Democracy for you. Sorry if it inconveniences you, Assad.

William Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:37:17am

Hans, Iran is set to implode. Watch what happens there after Iraq is liberated; it's a two-for-one deal.

Joel Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:46:50am

It is amazing how the Freakazoid world really can produce good leaders. it is bad enough with shit like Saddam, Hafez el Assad, Khadafy and even Mubarak, but they groom their psycopathic offspring, the ill begotten drippings from their loins such as Uday and Qusay Hussein, Bashar Assad, Seif al Islam Khadafy and Mubarak is grooming his son gamal to replace him.

kid charlemagne Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:49:16am

Here's a small taste of what goes on in the loathsome police state of Syria.

centaur Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:52:59am

Assad has a lot at stake in keeping saddam in power --- the Iraqi border has become essentially open, despite the sanctions, and a bazillion (is that a word) tons of illegitimate (non oil-for-food trade, which allows saddam to spend the profits on whatever he wants... like French and German and Russian arms) oil is flowing into Syria (along w/ who knows what else... hmmm).

Sorry 'bout all the paranthesis.

Re Iran: What countries border Iran? We're gonna choke them off and the people will overthrow the islamotyrany (with lots of our help) as the ME dictatorships all fall down. And the Intifadia will be ground down to nothing without its external patrons (Iran, Iraq, Syria... France... the Saudis). And there will eventually be peace. (Yes, I am feeling very optimistic today... so sick of all this blather , let's just get it done already!)

J Lichty Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:03:03am

It is funny to watch the graphics on t.v of all of the "security council" countries that are with us, against us and undecided about Iraq.

The one that really stands out is Syria. That Syria has even the appearance of a say in what we do is appalling. That we are willing to sit on the same council as a country that even our own Arabist State Department has declared a terrorist supporting state is nothing short of scandalous.

Enough is enough. Bush has six years left to change the facts on the ground before we are subjected to another potential president Clinton, he better stop dicking around and get on with Iraq.

As I have predicted in the past, I do not believe Syria is next, in fact I don't think any countries will be next. If we are having this much trouble with the softball that is Iraq, how are we ever going to take action in a more nuanced situation like Iran, Syria or North Korea? We have paid a heavy price for our pandering, and that price is any future action will be crippled by this process, whehter the UN is involved or not. Iraq was the easy case.

Dirk Diggler Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:03:44am

"He said in that case being hostile to the United States was better than being its friend."

As Germany and Japan will surely attest.

Rodger Dodger Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:08:21am

J Lichty, I think you are being unnecessarily pessimistic. Remember, the best way to get some of these goons... and Assad is a goon... is to change the terms of the environment. If the Iraq War is succesful, and it should be, the whole Middle East equation alters in ways Assad cannot control. The Syrian merchant class will push him out. It's over.

BJW Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:14:32am

Hey Litchy, read this and tell me what you think. I know you will never come over to my side until other nations start going the way of Saddam but I'll at least keep trying to give you hope that it's going to happen.

Alon Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:16:49am

Just to clarify, Assad doesn't have an anti-war stance, he has an anti-America one. Lest we forget, Assad is occupying Lebanon, yet no liberal seems to care about the Syrian massacre of tens of thousands of Lebanese Christians (which Arafat had a part in murdering).

I had the pleasure of talking to a anti-War Syrian, asking him about Syria's occupation of Lebanon, he replied, "It's just over dramatized."

Bill Hobbs Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:16:52am

Okay, so I'm Bashar Assad and I'm dictator of a shitty little country that is an international pariah state beloved only by the likes of Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat. I'm a secular leader so I fear Islamic fundamentalism. My country is Arab and Middle Eastern, but there's no damn oil. And I couldn't beat the Israelis if I met them head-on so I fund Hezbollah to do the fighting and the dying. Along comes Sept. 11, and Bush says "you're with us or against us," so I play nice and make a few noises about rooting out Islamowacko terrorists - hey, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? But then Bush starts this whole Iraq thing and suddenly I realize I've been played for a fool - the war on terror might well become a war on me and my Baathist regime real soon and I know how that story will end, and I don't like it. So I figure I've gotta get the Americans' attention and . change the dynamic and make myself a player. So I make some noises about not trusting America, and urge Arabs to fall in line behind me, knowing the Saudis and some of the other Gulf states will stick with the Americans. Why? Simple. I'm angling to be the leader of the nationalist anti-American Arab states in the post-Saddam Hussein era, only I won't make the mistake that fool made and pursue WMDs and fund suicide bombers. I'll be the kind of dictator they will decide to live with. How? Soon, very soon, I'll turn on Hezbollah and crush them, so Washington won't start looking at me the way they've been looking at Saddam. If I do that, maybe they'll decide to call it even and leave me alone, and I'll be what Saddam used to be - leader of the secular, nationalist Arabs.

Hell, I know its a long shot. The Americans are probably coming for me eventually. I'd just rather they do Iran and North Korea first, so I can have more time. Time is my friend. Perhaps the Americans will tire of this game before they get to me... Oh god, I hope so. Otherwise, I'm toast. Maybe I ought to be looking for a home in exile, just in case. I hear the south of France is nice. Somebody get me Chirac's number...

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:19:57am

#38 Bill Hobbs

The only problem in your argument is that Syria already has stockpiles of chemical weapons and a nuclear weapons program. They could of course follow DeKlerk example and disarm, but I seriously doubt they will.

liberalhawk Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:22:09am

10, 15

the reason we're delaying and takind on the UNSC again is for Blair. If the US and UK went in without at least some effort at the UNSC, there a real chance Blari would be done for, and we very much want him around fro the next stage (iran, Syria, etc) Im not sure how strong a UNSC vote Blair needs (he could certainly survive a French veto, but could he survive a 9 to 6 vote with French AND Russian vetos? How about an 8 to 7 vote??) and thus how much we'll give up on the resolution to get a majority.

reaganite Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:25:20am

Another war story from me. During DS-1 I noticed something among our Arab "allies" about the Syrians. Shorty after the Liberation the Kuwaitis held parades in front of the US Embassy every day. They were quite a show. Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Eqyptian troops took part with their weapons slung. One day about a week after the Liberation Syrians showed up. All of the other Arabs, including civilian Kuwaitis, carried their weapons at the ready. Even they know how vile the Syrians are.

IB Bill Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:32:01am

Love Assad's take on the Shah.

Yes, if you're a brutal dictator like the Shah, the U.S. might not save your ass when the chickens come home to roost.

And we protected him -- at the cost of a 444-day hostage crisis -- and that wasn't enough for him, either.

There's several lessons in there for Assad, but he's not drawing any of the obvious ones.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:32:14am

#41 reaganite

One day about a week after the Liberation Syrians showed up. All of the other Arabs, including civilian Kuwaitis, carried their weapons at the ready. Even they know how vile the Syrians are.

I think this is when I remind people most 'Palestinians' are southern Syrians... :-)

reaganite Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:40:44am

#43 Caton
The Shamals must drive them over the edge. What's the Syrian term for shamal?

Another Irony for you. My boss is a Pali, born in Baghdad.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:43:59am

#45 reaganite

Well... don't trust him.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:45:37am

#44 reaganite

Let me rephrase that. If he's not Christian, don't trust him.

reaganite Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:46:34am

#45 Caton
He is currently on his second deployment to an unspecified country since OEF started. If he's a sleeper, I'll eat my hat. Him and I served together in DS-1 also.

reaganite Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:48:34am

Caton
Another comment, you are aware of my training, if he was a sleeper, he's missed a ton of opportunities.

reaganite Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:50:09am

#46 Caton
Like the both of us, he's agnostic. From a Christian upbringing.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:56:05am

#49 reaganite

Like the both of us, he's agnostic. From a Christian upbringing.

In that case, he's probably OK.

Studsup Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:05:28pm

This is not the time for Blair "to go wobbly" on us.

But, if he does, then we move without the UK too. USA citizens are under attack, not the Brits, the French or the Germans.

reaganite Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:08:07pm

#51 Studsup
Check the facts, citizens from many nations died on
9-11

Bill Hobbs Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:09:05pm

Bashar here, again. Dang. You know about the WMDs. I forgot we'd already told everyone. Okay. Well, I'm just hoping that if I crush Hezbollah, Washington will turn its wrath elsewhere, if even for a few months. Time. I need time. I gotta figure out how to get rid of those WMDs that I stupidly let Saddam hide here. Hmmm... Any al Qaeda passing through Damascus?

Dirk Diggler Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:17:45pm

Stock Market (DJIA, NASDAQ, S&P) crashes again today. All this uncertainty surrounding Iraq is pushing a weak recovery back into a "double-dip" recession. President Bush, I implore you, end this useless debate in the UN Security Council and do what is necessary. No timetables, no more "final" ultimatums, no more resolutions warning of "severe consequences", just resolute and swift action.

J.D. Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:20:32pm

Syria received 'economic rewards' at the time of GW1. Sounds as though that hasn't happened this go-round.

J Lichty Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:27:51pm

Rodger and BJW, I appreciate the optimism, I really do, but how can we go after a more nuanced enemy when the cartoonishly obvious enemy Iraq is still standing. (I have finally come to the conclusion that we will oust him, however reluctantly).

Pollard's piece is a nice bit of wishful thinking.

I see the world shaping up much the way it did in 1991. An international "peace" conference will be called. Blair will cash in his chips to wreak more mischief in "Palestine." We will be butting on a election year in the US. Bush flush with victory in Iraq will not have the energy or political capital to get a coalition of the willing to go after Iran (after all they were not responsible for 9/11 and they haven't done anything to us since 1979-80 or so the appeasers would have us believe).

How do you think Bush is going to "make the case" against Iran, Syria, Libya, PA, Saudi, or even North Korea?

All I have seen is wishful thinking and logic of what should happen. I just don't see us being at the point where Bush will be able to follow this logic. For some reason in this country (and even moreso in Europe) the UN is seen as greater than the sum of its parts.

If you asked most Americans, should we listen to France, they would say no, but if you ask them should we listen to the UN, they would say yes. The UN is viewed as this legitimate objective body, which most perceive as apolitical. Would the average American hinge our interests on what Guinea, Angola and Camaroon think? No, but put them on a UN security council and suddely it is no longer France, Camaroon and Syria telling us what to do, but the the objective and moral UN.

Bush will have to make a hell of a case to get Americans to stop this ridiculous perception. While this will be a difficult battle, the battle with Europe over the UN will be a bigger mess than Iraq. Only through the UN has Europe been able to countenance American power. Where else, can France be considered an equal of the US?

This all leads me to the objectives of the so-called coalition of the willing. The coalition of the willing does not want the UN to go the way of the do do bird, the coalition of the willing will not want to see Syria nd Iran fall, or at least they will have difficulty making the case that they should. The friendly governments have supported us despite the opposition to American use of force harbored by their populaces. Our CotW (Coalition of the Willing) partners do not see the urgency of the war on terror as encompassing the war on all terror like Bush does. The CotW support us because it is an easy case to make to support us.

We must remember that these same CotW countries are all adherents to the "stability" theory of the middle east. In no other context except Afghanistan (another no-brainer no nuanced situation) have these countries supported intervention against "muslim" countries. These CotW are generally supportive of the Arab world status-quo and have even embraced some of the most evil elements of that neighborhood. For example, Blair recently refused to meet with Sharon, but welcomed the Syrian dictator with open arms.

The CotW is clearly on the side of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian terrorits in their genocidal war against the Jews. Will they be able to support US efforts against that grain? I believe that Bush is unwilling to act unilaterally despite his critics shrill cries to the contrary. We will have much difficulty getting any of these countries on our side for us to change things in other Arab lands. I look at Iraq as an exception to them, not to Bush, but that will not change things.

I think in Bush's ideal world, he would go after all of the countries, I just don't think there is enough political juice to make it happen.

As I have said before, I pray I am wrong (for all of our sake) but Pollard's wishful thinking is nothing more than your wishful thinking or my pessimism, it is a prediction based not upon facts, but based upon speculation.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:32:46pm

#53 Bill Hobbs

I gotta figure out how to get rid of those WMDs that I stupidly let Saddam hide here. Hmmm... Any al Qaeda passing through Damascus?

I know you intended it as a joke, but... there are stockpiles of nerve gas hidden in the Bekaa valley right now. So it's not funny.

Mark Mon, Mar 10, 2003 12:56:40pm

Bashir doesn't like the thought that there will be approximately 200,000 US-Brits sharing his border with Iraq in the near future. I suspect he knows in the near future he'll be paid a visit from a US envoy and told in no uncertain terms to unconditionally vacate southern Lebanaon forwith. I suspect he's getting a little testy. And very nervous.

David Mon, Mar 10, 2003 1:44:09pm

PHOTO OF A HAMAS LITTLE GIRL BEING ABUSED

Red Herring Mon, Mar 10, 2003 2:43:28pm

Speaking of our Arab friends:

By Associated Press

March 10, 2003, 2:43 PM EST

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia, as the birthplace of Islam, will not allow churches to be built on its land, according to Defense Minister Prince Sultan.

Islam is the only accepted religion in Saudi Arabia, home to the faith's holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina.

"This country was the launch pad for the prophecy and the message, and nothing can contradict this, even if we lose our necks," Sultan told reporters Saturday. His comments were published by Saudi newspapers and confirmed by several journalists who attended the press conference.

Sultan said that foreigners have been allowed to worship freely in their homes since they began arriving in Saudi Arabia in 1951 but permitting a church in the country "would affect Islam and all Muslims."

On Thursday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency, complained that a new State Department list of countries that severely limit religious freedom omits several that deserve censure, including U.S. ally Saudi Arabia. The commission's annual reports say that religious freedom "does not exist" in the Gulf Kingdom.

"Those who talked (about churches in Saudi Arabia) are church people and they are, unfortunately, fanatics," Sultan said, according to Monday's Okaz daily newspaper. "We are not against religions at all ... but there are no churches -- not in the past, the present or future."
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press

Maine's Michael Mon, Mar 10, 2003 3:08:56pm

Southern Syria would make a fine homeland for the palestinians. Not as good as Jordan, but Syria is not playing on the right team, and Jordan sort of is.

Only a matter of time before someone puts a nice round bullethole smack in the middle of Assad's 5 story forehead.

Maine's Michael Mon, Mar 10, 2003 3:16:31pm

Wordwarp #11:

That Faust is an interesting writer. How do you know he is a debka source, and how can I regularly read him?

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 3:20:45pm

#62 Maine's Michael

That Faust is an interesting writer.

I went through a number of his posts. Sometimes he is completely off the mark, sometimes he is posting classified information. I'd like him to shut the fuck up.

Maine's Michael Mon, Mar 10, 2003 4:23:27pm

Caton:

Sometimes he is completely off the mark

As are most of us, and most of the 'experts' . . .

sometimes he is posting classified information

That's why he's interesting!

I'd like him to shut the fuck up.

Not me. He's way too entertaining!

zulubaby Mon, Mar 10, 2003 4:29:12pm

David (#59)

I saw that 'photo yesterday. Is that repulsive or what!?

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 4:37:00pm

#64 Maine's Michael

Interesting, huh? So having some poor joe killed in the field because an asshole leaked confidential informations is OK with you as long as it's interesting?

Now take your head out of your ass and think again. Should 'faust' shut the fuck up?

Maine's Michael Mon, Mar 10, 2003 4:46:50pm

Caton:

My you're a rude little fella.

How do you, sitting in France, of all places, happen to know what's classified and what isn't?

Give me a fucking break.

How do you feel, being led by a bunch of assholes whose dissembling and appeasement instinct will actually be responsible for excess deaths, if and when war comes?

Maine's Michael Mon, Mar 10, 2003 5:05:49pm

Caton:

Here's some classified material from 'Faust'.

Must have been 'classified' by David Letterman. Wait, you're in France, right? I meant Jerry Lewis:

Majority of Syrian MP candidates are highly educated, but they drive around in used cars and have a country with the economic strength of a province in southern Mexico and the military capability of half of Cuba.

Assad should consider growing a beard like Fidel, it would cover up his weak chin and make him look like he wasn't a Linoleum Salesman. Why are his eyes so close together?

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 5:17:04pm

#67 Maine's Michael

My you're a rude little fella.

Not 'little'. Try again.

How do you, sitting in France, of all places, happen to know what's classified and what isn't?

Sorry. Can't tell you that. Not without endangering people who are actually in the field. So I won't.

Give me a fucking break.

Why? Because you feel I unfairly jumped on you for a completely innocent remark? Yeah, I did. I know you didn't think about possible consequences when you said it was interesting and entertaining. And that's exactly why I was rude. To make you think about the possible consequences.

I've read previous posts from you. You are perfectly aware that people are being sent in harm's way, and you know they are risking their lifes to protect us and our freedom. You just didn't think.

Problem is, neither does 'faust'. He posts shit like:

We never had any difficulty entering or leaving Jubair or Rumailah. I can say from observation that Jubair and Rumailah and al –qurna are clean of any Saddam weapons. Other fields I can not vouch for. But the southern fields are secured and clear.

I'm not going to say if this is bullshit or real. But let's assume 'faust' to be telling the truth here. There isn't an infantry division digged in around the fields. What there could be is some SF dug in a few miles away from the fields and patrolling the area. Now, SF patrols are small in numbers, especially for this kind of job, because the goal is to observe, report and stay invisible. A couple of Guards divisions could encircle the area and capture them. The only thing that protects those troops is that Saddam doesn't know they are there.

Do you want SF patrol to be caught by Saddam's Guard? Not really. Does 'faust' want U.S. soldiers to be captured? No. He just does not think, and is volunteering information that can fall in enemy's hands.

And that's why I'm angry -- I've been the sorry joe roaming the country in 1991, if anybody had posted our patrol areas, I'd be fucking dead now.

How do you feel, being led by a bunch of assholes whose dissembling and appeasement instinct will actually be responsible for excess deaths, if and when war comes?

Well, I live in France, but I'm Israeli and Italian. Sharon has become a fucking dove, I hope the National Union chaps will keep him from doing anything really stupid. And Berlusconi is 100% behind the U.S. so I can't say I blame him for France stupidity.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 5:18:11pm

#68 Maine's Michael

Bah. faust rants are funny. I don't care about the rants.

Rob G Mon, Mar 10, 2003 5:49:07pm

#12 -

Actually, it is neither of the two - he was an ophthalmologist. He befouls my wonderful profession.

gymnast Mon, Mar 10, 2003 7:17:39pm

#71, You better get a eye exam because he's a dentist unless he has gone back to school lately.

heretic Mon, Mar 10, 2003 8:22:25pm

Agree with Maine's Michael. Caton should consider that he's in That Country, he doesn't really have a vote on anything in This Country, and it's not his fight any way. And "shut the fuck up" and freedom of speech don't speak to each other.

So ... go terrorize a Frenchman and be quiet.

Michael Lonie Mon, Mar 10, 2003 8:52:01pm

You might want to read Caton's #69 and think again.

InternationalSadist Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:29:35pm

As fun as it would be to have our troops romping around the globe cleaning up the various messes which serve as so called nations, it might just be funner to back out and watch the whole mess implode. Imagine 50 terrorist states each with chem and bio weapons fucking each other. Give it 50 years them the USA can finally add a few sparsly populated states to even out that Californian hellhole. Only problem is if any gets in the USA. I guess my point is, if we are going to stop this bullshit, lets do it right. It would take, what, a month to do each of these regiems. Putting hundreds of thousands of troops in position for a pathetic pea brained imbicle like sadam is a fucking joke. Lets up the pace, one reigiem after another in rapid succession.

Iraq, iran, syria, libya, the african regeims, NK, China, mabey inbetween, we can do cuba, the columbia drug lords, the socialist dictators of South America, and France. Oh and don't forget those ailen bastards who are watching us from mars: we should nuke them to.

Oh what a dream it would be.

Caton Mon, Mar 10, 2003 10:49:52pm

#75 InternationalSadist

Putting hundreds of thousands of troops in position for a pathetic pea brained imbicle like sadam is a fucking joke.

One of the specificities of the U.S. military since WWII is that it does not waste its soldiers' blood. The U.S. wants to go in with overwhelming force, and suffer no casualties at all if possible. The drawback is that, of course, it takes time to deploy a force big enough to keep casualties down, but the U.S. seem to think it's better to go slow than to waste soldiers.

I see nothing wrong with this philosophy.

Michael Levy Mon, Mar 10, 2003 11:06:12pm

"Huh? A Ba'athist tyrant speaking of the Shah in somewhat positive tones? I thought Pahlavi was hated in those circles"

No, they're both secularists, so they stick together. Saddam Hussein offered aid to the Shah to prop him up (including an offer to assassinate Khomeini before the revolution began)

kid charlemagne Tue, Mar 11, 2003 3:38:47am

#61:

Only a matter of time before someone puts a nice round bullethole smack in the middle of Assad's 5 story forehead.

LOL. If only I could believe it...

Crusade Now Tue, Mar 11, 2003 4:31:36am

hmmm #69 Caton - so if you are undercover over in France, are you in this weblog as part of your time off -free time? I have seen you making remarks about getting some SLA friends' family out of Lebanon. It makes me wonder... Are you full of hot air or for real. Living in Europe I have met people from all over the world -yes Israelis as well..and I think the vast majority when they tell you a story are full of hot air. Eg I remember Bez telling us how dangerous Albanians are - when I saw a bunch of them get beaten up by some Kiwis and white kiwis at that in Shepherds Bush here in London. I have heard similar nonsense from A Brazilian guy who later on ran away when the chips were down. I never thought of my home town as violent but coming to Europe - yep I gotta say us South Aussies are not full of hot air...

Henry S. Tue, Mar 11, 2003 4:55:22am

The most troubling aspect of this story (although not the most surprising) is Assad's account of his conversation with William Burns in 1991 where Burns allegedly promises the US will spearhead a Palestinian state if the Arabs join the coalition.

Burns is Meister of the Arabist agenda at the State Department and would happily sell Israel down the Jordan river in the wink of an eye if the President would acquiesce.

Crusade Now Tue, Mar 11, 2003 5:04:46am

Caton someone who says he is the abu of you wrties in this post about Pali whores [Link: www.littlegreenfootballs.com...]

Then Faust talks about Pali whores put on by the qatar govt.

[Link: www.albawabaforums.com...]

Are you REALLY faust?

Caton Tue, Mar 11, 2003 5:27:03am

#79 Crusade Now

Undercover? What gave you this idea? I live here, I've been out of the IDF for 11 years now, but, I'm not sure you are familiar with the concept, I still have friends in the IDF. Some of them know that, for my job, I have access to confidential information, and I still have security clearance. So, from time to time, especially when they're feeling down, they talk a little... It's called friendship.

Security? An email encrypted with a 4096-bits PGP key is secure. No problem here. And even unencrypted, I doubt people would understand what we're talking about.

#81 Crusade Now

Nope. And I'm not in the Gulf or in the U.S. military. I just went to the U.A.E. for my job a few days ago. I missed the 'Palestinian whores' part in 'faust' post. The funny thing is that, today, there are only Palestinian whores in the U.A.E. while a decade ago, there were Asians, Indians, Philippinas, Europeans, South-Americans... everything.

Oh... and Abu Caton is my new nom de guerre :-)

Rob G Tue, Mar 11, 2003 6:35:21am

#72 gymnast

He actually is an ophthalmologist, not a dentist. There is also no reason not to be polite. I'm simply responding to an inquiry by another reader.
Assad

gymnast Tue, Mar 11, 2003 7:01:44am

#83, Rob G, Google Basher Assad+Dentist

Rob G Tue, Mar 11, 2003 7:15:49am

#84 gymnast

Is there a specific article you can link me to? Using Google, as you suggested, I did not find the information. On the other hand, if you Google: Assad + Ophthalmologist, I found much documentation. Thanks.

gymnast Tue, Mar 11, 2003 7:20:03am

#83, Rob, Sorry, Make that google Assad+dentist. Google of Assad+opthamologist indicates that I am in need of eye exam. It's a good thing neither of us makes a living as a journalist. The number of citations as an opthamologist gives you a statistical edge. Opthamologists are good guys, with the exception of assad and khalid Tabara.

Crusade Now Tue, Mar 11, 2003 7:26:04am

#82 Hmmm what happened to the other whores? Is the gulf to close to www3 for the rest of them? I had a friend who went to the UAE back in'99 and he said they were all russians and blondes. I met a saudi in London who owned a construction company and was from the east of Fraudi arabia. I asked him about America but he wasn't falling for it an said "they are the worlds only superpower" etc... The bastard was quite honest in his love for the "looseness" of western women. I pointed out the contradiction and he described it as the "best of both worlds".

gymnast Tue, Mar 11, 2003 7:44:42am

#83, Rob G, I hate eating crow for breakfast, Please pass the salt,and maybe a little tobasco sauce to help it go down better.

Rob G Tue, Mar 11, 2003 8:32:22am

gymnast:

No offense taken. I've enjoyed our conversation.

Caton Tue, Mar 11, 2003 8:37:37am

#87 Crusade Now

Hmmm what happened to the other whores?

I haven't the faintest idea. But I guarantee telling a Pali about it will make him mad.

gymnast Tue, Mar 11, 2003 8:54:52am

#89, Rob G, Same, sure beats a sharp stick in the eye. Learned something too. That Syrian dentist sure would like to give Assad a mouth full of root canals and a sharp stick in the eye,all without anesthetic. Pays to read the fine(Not the blue) print.The news media made the same error when Assad got his Papa's job apparently.