In my previous post "and the Winner is - Saudi Arabia" I argued that Saudi Arabia has recently made a successful effort to "acquire" Syria as a state operating within the sphere of influence of "the Kingdom."
Syria has been for many years an ally of Iran. In this time of renewed Iranian assertiveness as a major power in the Middle East intent on achieving a dominant status it is not surprising that President Ahmededinajad is in Damascus offering a "basket" of "goodies" presumably as inducement to a continuation and solidification of the old relationship between the two countries.
Will the Iranian effort to "recapture" Syria succeed? It is not at all certain that this will happen. The Kingdom will not want this to happen and will "throw" additional inducements, either positive or negative in nature into the competition.
The Alawi rulers of Syria have a difficult time in having themselves taken seriously as "real" Muslims. They like to think of themselves as a Shia sect. Not many Shia think of them that way, but the Alawi treasure the idea and it inclines them toward the Iranians and Hizballah. At the same time they have a good grasp of the attitude toward them of the Sunni, Wahhabi government of Saudi Arabia.
How will all this "balance out" in the context of the hostility of the American and French friends of the Saudis? Only time will tell.
Pat Lang
I've been having difficulties figuring out the hostility towards Syria on the part of the Bush Administration. It appears almost designed to undercut any opportunity for Syrian ruler Bashar Assad to consolidate power, and appears almost guaranteed to push Syria towards Iran as an ally. It's as if they *want* the fanatics to win. Also strange is that Syria has a long-time antipathy towards radical Islamism dating back to their experience with the Muslim Brotherhood (at least the spiritual ancestors of al qaeda), so they would make a natural ally for the United States in the war against radical Islamism. Indeed, the United States has deported or rendered a number of people suspected of being radical Islamists to Syria to be tortured on behalf of the CIA, and the Syrians were happy to oblige. So what in the world is going on here with all the sabre-rattling of the US against Syria? Is this yet another case of Israeli interests winning out over US interests?
- Badtux the Puzzled Penguin
Posted by: BadTux | 19 January 2006 at 07:26 PM
Baddy
Bravo! pl
Posted by: W. Patrick Lang | 19 January 2006 at 10:57 PM
I think we have a good idea who's fiddeling on the Roof.. and It ain't Barbara..
SSSHHHH Baddie..Its a Kosher Secret..
Posted by: Patrick Henry | 20 January 2006 at 01:34 AM