Has anyone been catching CNN's soupe du jour Syria's Ambassador to the United States Imad Mustapha? Every time I flick to CNN the good PhD diplomat always seems to be on. He's out there working hard to soften the image of Syria for us all.
Operation Soften Syria is in full flight. Another diplomat that will fade into the Arabian night I am sure.
The question I have is who does this guy think he's kidding? Doesn't he know he's talking to an audience with a sophisticated sense of humour?
Consider some of these comments (and I paraphrase) he repeats often:
On the ceasefire: "...we are more than willing to engage..."
About Israel and America's role: "....they must seek comprehensive solutions..."
On describing Syria as "....peaceful..."
And Syria's position on what ails the Middle East: "...the core issue of regarding the occupation has to be addressed..."
Aw, gee? Is that it?
Seriously, are the cameramen laughing in the background? Does he break into uncontrollable giggles himself when the cameras are off? When has Syria ever been willing to engage? The only language Syria understands is force. Ask Turkey. Forget Zionist and American propaganda for a sec, Syria has had multiple opportunities to 'engage' and take the initiative over the years. They chose not to and now they and Iran have made Lebanon pay the ultimate price.
As for comprehensive solutions. It seems to me massive concessions were made as an initial step to normalizing the region under Bill Clinton. Israel and her people were in a giving mood in the early to mid 90s and Arafat ditched the whole effort. The truth is that it's hard to please a cynical population that is so vulnerable to conspiracy theories.
And this ties into his contention that Syria is peaceful and that all is about the occupation. Syria occupies Lebanon. So you can't complain about another country when your own government are doing the same thing. It does affect your credibility.
In any event, I am not prepared to concede the complex issues that confront the Mid-East all boil down to the occupation. It started well before this. The notion that all would dance in the streets of Galilee and swim in the Red Sea in peace without the occupation is pure fiction. It's an Arab fantasy. I did, come to think of it, enjoy Arab literature in school; like Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves for example.
This soupe du jour is turning cold....fast.
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