Syria's Conflict with Lebanon (3/2005)

Formally a province of the Ottoman Empire, Greater Syria was split into two different states, Syria and Lebanon after the dissolution of the empire by French colonialists. Since then Syria has become a one-party system under authoritarian rule and has been this way since 1944.1 After the death of his father, the prior ruler Hafez Assad, Bashar Assad took power over the country as many hoped for reform from the stern previous 30 year rule. Unfortunately the people of Syria would only find more of the same dictatorship they had become familiar with. While not supporting the 9/11 attacks as some of his less fortunate fellow Middle Eastern leaders did (i.e. Saddam) Bashar Assad has still managed to possibly ink his country's name down on George W.'s conquest list.2 From supporting Iraq during the war to the Syrian troops that are stationed in Lebanon, Syria may very soon find itself in the same situation Iraq was in just a few years back.

Bashar Assad seems unaware of the need for a clear direction in the decisions he makes dealing with anything concerning America and American interests. After denouncing the WTC attacks Syria helped with the war on terrorism, even going so far as to give America intelligence it gained about high ranking Al Qaida officials from interrogations. However after this Bashar went on to publicly support Iraq during war with America and, some say by harboring refugee Iraqi officals.2 And just as was done before the war with Iraq the U.S. has already begun to build up a alarming list of Syria's offenses that is almost sure to rally support from the American citizenry. Including accusations of "sponsoring terrorism, having weapons of mass destruction, facilitating fighters' entry into Iraq..." and "occupying Lebanon in defiance of the people's will"1 which will be covered later. Assad has also created problems for the country by presenting himself as a threat to American interests in Israel. He has publicly called Israelis "more racist than the Nazis" and has said they wish to"...kill the principles of all religions with the same mentality with which they betrayed Jesus Christ..."2 These remarks and actions in Lebanon have made Assad out to be a radical in the eyes of some prominent Americans which may be unfortunate for his country. Condoleeza Rice has hinted at the need for a regime change in the country, but will it be the U.S. who takes up the job again? The Secretary of State's remarks were based on the belief that a "Palestinian Islamic Jihad" has made Syria its home and the Syrian occupation of Lebanon.3 As mentioned before Syria and Lebanon were once one province in the Ottoman called Greater Syria. After the split of the countries Syria still considered the two the same and even got involved in the Lebanese Civil War. The occupation seemed natural and important to the Lebanese but after the unsolved assassination of one the heads