thedrifter
03-31-05, 05:54 AM
Allan Topol: Thugs in Damascus
A U.N. report released on March 24th places the blame for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri clearly on the Syrian government. One of the most striking statements in the report prepared by a U.N. team headed by Ireland's deputy police commissioner, Peter FitzGerald, describes what occurred at a meeting involving Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad. In the words of witnesses, Assad threatened Hariri with "physical harm" if the Lebanese leader challenged Syria's control over Lebanon.
Some find it startling, even bizarre, that the head of state of what is a supposedly civilized nation would behave in such a manner. For me, it wasn't the least bit surprising. Bashar learned his lessons well at the feet of his sadistic and barbaric father, Hafez Assada, who ruled Syria with an iron grip for decades.
In conducting research for my recently published novel, Enemy of My Enemy, I was struck by how little regard the Assads have had for the norms of civilized behavior. When opposition sprouted in the Syrian city of Hama, Hafez Assad leveled the town and killed tens of thousands of Syrian citizens.
The villain in my novel, Major General Nadim, the Deputy Director of Syrian Intelligence, has been modeled after the Assads -- both father and son. In crafting the character, it was difficult to duplicate someone as sinister and cruel as Hafez Assad. Bashar lacks his father's manipulative side -- he resorts merely to brute force.
The U.N. report describes what happened in Beirut after the attack on Hariri's convoy. With the Syrians in control, the Lebanese authorities, intimidated by their Syrian masters, made no effort to secure the site. In fact, key evidence including other vehicles in the area was hustled away. For good measure, a water main was opened that flooded the crime scene -- literally sweeping away the evidence -- and the police made no effort to control it.
FitzGerald was outraged that important evidence was either removed or destroyed on orders of the Syrian security services. One body was not recovered until the next day. Another a week later, and a third two weeks later. The police didn't even bother to interview potential witnesses, a failure which amounted to "gross negligence," in FitzGerald's words. In short, every effort was made to ensure that those individuals who planted and detonated the massive explosion, caused by a ton of TNT, were never arrested or brought to justice. The Syrians made very little effort to refute the U.N. report.
Damascus now seems to have adopted a new plan to defy the U.N., France and the United States, all of whom are demanding that Syria withdraw fully and promptly from Lebanon. Under that approach, the Syrians have relocated some of their troops and intelligence agents from visible positions in Beirut to the mountains in the east. They have NOT loosened their grip over the Lebanese government -- dominated by Syrian puppets. Damascus is hoping that the calls for Lebanon's liberation, which followed Hariri' assassination, will gradually die down. Then they can return to business as usual.
At this point it seems likely that the Syrian strategy will succeed. The protestors within Lebanon have neither a charismatic leader around whom they can focus their efforts or a sufficient military to throw off the yoke of Syrian domination. The UN, as usual, does nothing but talk. After receiving FitzGerald's report, Secretary General Kofi Annan called for an international investigation.
The Bush administration, eagerly searching for an opportunity to reduce American troops in Iraq, is unlikely to commit ground forces to what could be a quagmire in Lebanon. I don't make that statement critically. The U.S. is already shouldering a massive burden in Iraq and Afghanistan in human lives and cost. Others should step forward in Lebanon to secure a just result.
This leaves it up to the French, who have a unique relationship with Lebanon and Syria because those nations were once French colonies. Chirac has spoken up clearly in favor of an immediate Syrian withdrawal.
The question is whether the French leader is prepared to back those words with force. In the days prior to and even during the war in Iraq, Chirac was critical of what he described as Bush's heavy-handed action in removing Saddam Hussein. Now it's Chirac's chance to act.
The Syrians have controlled Lebanon for thirty years, stifling the freedom of the people and milking its economy. With a strong show of French force, the Syrians are likely to back down. The French will also be able to assist the Lebanese in building democratic institutions. The world is waiting to see what Chirac will do.
Ellie
A U.N. report released on March 24th places the blame for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri clearly on the Syrian government. One of the most striking statements in the report prepared by a U.N. team headed by Ireland's deputy police commissioner, Peter FitzGerald, describes what occurred at a meeting involving Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad. In the words of witnesses, Assad threatened Hariri with "physical harm" if the Lebanese leader challenged Syria's control over Lebanon.
Some find it startling, even bizarre, that the head of state of what is a supposedly civilized nation would behave in such a manner. For me, it wasn't the least bit surprising. Bashar learned his lessons well at the feet of his sadistic and barbaric father, Hafez Assada, who ruled Syria with an iron grip for decades.
In conducting research for my recently published novel, Enemy of My Enemy, I was struck by how little regard the Assads have had for the norms of civilized behavior. When opposition sprouted in the Syrian city of Hama, Hafez Assad leveled the town and killed tens of thousands of Syrian citizens.
The villain in my novel, Major General Nadim, the Deputy Director of Syrian Intelligence, has been modeled after the Assads -- both father and son. In crafting the character, it was difficult to duplicate someone as sinister and cruel as Hafez Assad. Bashar lacks his father's manipulative side -- he resorts merely to brute force.
The U.N. report describes what happened in Beirut after the attack on Hariri's convoy. With the Syrians in control, the Lebanese authorities, intimidated by their Syrian masters, made no effort to secure the site. In fact, key evidence including other vehicles in the area was hustled away. For good measure, a water main was opened that flooded the crime scene -- literally sweeping away the evidence -- and the police made no effort to control it.
FitzGerald was outraged that important evidence was either removed or destroyed on orders of the Syrian security services. One body was not recovered until the next day. Another a week later, and a third two weeks later. The police didn't even bother to interview potential witnesses, a failure which amounted to "gross negligence," in FitzGerald's words. In short, every effort was made to ensure that those individuals who planted and detonated the massive explosion, caused by a ton of TNT, were never arrested or brought to justice. The Syrians made very little effort to refute the U.N. report.
Damascus now seems to have adopted a new plan to defy the U.N., France and the United States, all of whom are demanding that Syria withdraw fully and promptly from Lebanon. Under that approach, the Syrians have relocated some of their troops and intelligence agents from visible positions in Beirut to the mountains in the east. They have NOT loosened their grip over the Lebanese government -- dominated by Syrian puppets. Damascus is hoping that the calls for Lebanon's liberation, which followed Hariri' assassination, will gradually die down. Then they can return to business as usual.
At this point it seems likely that the Syrian strategy will succeed. The protestors within Lebanon have neither a charismatic leader around whom they can focus their efforts or a sufficient military to throw off the yoke of Syrian domination. The UN, as usual, does nothing but talk. After receiving FitzGerald's report, Secretary General Kofi Annan called for an international investigation.
The Bush administration, eagerly searching for an opportunity to reduce American troops in Iraq, is unlikely to commit ground forces to what could be a quagmire in Lebanon. I don't make that statement critically. The U.S. is already shouldering a massive burden in Iraq and Afghanistan in human lives and cost. Others should step forward in Lebanon to secure a just result.
This leaves it up to the French, who have a unique relationship with Lebanon and Syria because those nations were once French colonies. Chirac has spoken up clearly in favor of an immediate Syrian withdrawal.
The question is whether the French leader is prepared to back those words with force. In the days prior to and even during the war in Iraq, Chirac was critical of what he described as Bush's heavy-handed action in removing Saddam Hussein. Now it's Chirac's chance to act.
The Syrians have controlled Lebanon for thirty years, stifling the freedom of the people and milking its economy. With a strong show of French force, the Syrians are likely to back down. The French will also be able to assist the Lebanese in building democratic institutions. The world is waiting to see what Chirac will do.
Ellie