[Brad from Tennessee]

On C-Span last week a former reporter who spent a few years in Lebanon was talking about Hezbollah and the Syrian influence in Lebanon. He said when the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 Lebanon was under the control of Syrian government forces and Hezbollah which Syria sponsored. He said Assad got hold of Time magazine writer Joe Klein and asked him to relay a message to George Bush. Assad said he “was not Saddam Hussein” and wanted to cooperate with the U.S. The U.S. reply was for Assad to remove his forces from Lebanon and Assad agreed. The Syrian presence in Lebanon was mostly unpopular with the Lebanese, The Syrians began their withdrawal in 2005 amid an uprising against them.

Former Secretary of State James Baker, considered to represent rich Saudis, talked during this period of “flipping Syria”—inducing Assad into splitting from Iran and moving into the U.S. camp. One model was Egypt's severance from the Soviets—who Saddat suspect would eventually kill him—and allying itself with the U.S.

Around the time Assad began leaving Syria Qaddafi was cutting his own deal with the U.S. which include ending his WMD programs, renouncing terrorism, and allowing American oil companies access to Libyan oil fields. Like Assad, Qaddafi said he feared ending up in a U.S. military prison like Saddam Hussein.

The U.S. could have fully exploited its new and fearsome power in the region had not Congressional Democrats, the news media and the full spectrum of the American Left erupted into a twisted and relentless propaganda war on Bush, his policy makers and coalition operations in Iraq.

[WoofDog123]

I specifically remember someone in the bush admin saying syria could be flipped, but didn’t know the context beyond that.

[SunkenCiv]

Great summary!

[PghBaldy]

Good post.

[Eleutheria5]

At present, per yesterday’s Yisrael Hayom, quoting numerous Arab journalistic sources, it looks like either the Revolutionary Guard of Iran or Hizbollah, or both, are being used within Syria to suppress the demonstrations. Witnesses say that they were shot at by bearded men in uniform, and the Syrian armed forces are all clean-shaven, using weapons that are not issued to Syrian regulars. Apparently, Assad has had a few too many mutinies among his own troops.