France brokering Lebanon-Syria embassy deal
This is win-win-win all the way. The Lebanese people win by getting their national independence finally recognized by their Syrian neighbor. Syria wins by escaping both from the burden of its long-claimed "responsibilities" in Lebanon and from the useless and anomalous burden of that relic of its recidivist claim over Lebanon. Former colonial power France wins by being given the laurels for bringing off this deal.
Oh, and Bashar al-Asad wins again, of course, by further breaking out of his international isolation.
Why is it good that Syria should give up its recidivist claim. In fact, it should be encouraged. As far as I can tell the various ethnoreligious groups get along quite well in Syria as compared to Lebanon. Syria could also use the military skills and leadership of Khizbollah. A greater and more belligerent Syria, with Iranian backing, would provide a much needed bipolarity in the region. This would prevent the only democracy in the region from running amok.
As far as France mediating the whole thing - I don't know whether to laugh or to cry - since they started the whole problem. Allowing these Western JudeoChristian sociopaths into any other place only means trouble and eventual loss of sovereignty and socioeconomic slavery. I don't need to give examples - pick a country, any country.
Entirely agree. I just wanted to add that I am impressed, increasingly impressed, with Bashar al-Asad's foreign policy. There is a degree of subtlety there, and lack of militarism, which will serve Syria very well in the future. We should expect Mossad assassination attempts.
The only point I don't understand is how that policy is arrived at, who is influential, what might be the internal conflicts. Syrian politics is notoriously obscure. Even after reading Syria Comment for some time, I still don't have any idea. Nor other blogs. Nor my Syrian students either.
Bashar himself, or another figure close to the presidency? At any rate, one can say that the internal conflicts which might have occurred since the death of Hafiz al-Asad seem to have been resolved.
Alex, given that part of Assad's foreign policy involves portraying himself as a potential Israeli partner and holding out the hope of being a Mubarak-style broker in Lebanon, why would the Mossad want to assassinate him? Assad's genius - and I agree that it's genius - is to make himself appear potentially useful to everyone who previously wanted to isolate him, hence the way in which Israel has actually helped break the United States' boycott.
In any event, while the establishment of an embassy is an encouraging sign and the French role is interesting (Syria has also spoken of a possible French role in the bilateral talks with Israel), the embassy doesn't necessarily spell the end either to Syria's recidivist claim or to its desire for dominance of Lebanese politics.
Karthouse's post about wanting Syria to continue claims to swallow up Lebanon and be more belligerant: Was that a serious claim? Or a snark posted by someone with anti-Syrian stances mocking people who want to negotiate with Syria?
Inky: I am dead serious mate.
A greater Syria should stretch from the Tigris/Eupharates and adjoining arab speaking areas all the way into and including Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon. There are several reasons, but primarily because there is a huge reservoir of fantastic human capital that should be channelled into productive activity. This would also dull the abrasiveness of these Maronite Neo-Phoenician Francophiles who are more or less a 5th column. They should be provided with exit visa's ASAP.
Lastly, if I was Sarko, I would sit in the Elysee Palace and stare into Carla's eyes all day instead of making a pest of myself. Damn that lucky little midget.