Tear Up This Pact, Mr. Assad

An economic weekly is egging on the Syrian government to abrogate all treaties signed between Lebanon and Syria. I say: "Quick, LET'S, before they change their minds". The weekly almost surely has the blessing of Syria's government. And I am pretty sure the Syrian government doesn't want to abrogate anything. But that is how they play the pressure game, against our hapless "leaders".


The writer and owner of Al-Iqtissadiya claims that Syria is happier since it left Lebanon. Lebanon is happier too. Everyone's happy. The writer Abed-Rabbo goes on to tell us that all these treaties and pacts, signed when Syria was negotiating with its own stooges in Lebanon, are more beneficial to Lebanon than to Syria. Now I want to be a very good "brother" and I say: NOT FAIR. Let's abrogate these treaties that are good for the Lebanese and detrimental to Syria. This is what real brotherhood is all about.

I know "we" signed God knows how many of those "brotherly" agreements on defense, economics, education, tourism electricity, you name it. If abrogated, the only one I'll really miss is the Research-Education cooperation treaty. My sources tell me that Syrian researchers are working on a new "Hommos".

Of course I am kidding, and daydreaming, because our spineless politicians and brotherly population won't have any of this abrogation. No matter what is done to them, no matter the hurt, no matter the humiliation they DEMAND: you guessed it, all together now: good-and-brotherly-sisterly-incestuous relations.

ANYWAYS, Speaking of international and bilateral pacts and treaties (mostly worthless IMHO), here is one of my favorite stories from Ronnie-the-Great Reagan (The Economist June 9, 2005):

After the World Court found against the United States in 1986 for mining Nicaragua's harbors, President Ronald Reagan is said to have told his advisers to tear up the relevant treaty giving the court jurisdiction. When informed that this required two years' notice, he reportedly told them to tear up that provision too.

Agree or disagree with the man or the issue, that's what I call backbone, standing up for your side, focusing on the big picture. In one word: LEADERSHIP (and humor).