The American Spectator : Persian Ambitions vs. Syrian Interests

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Persian Ambitions vs. Syrian Interests

By George H. Wittman on 10.22.10 @ 6:07AM

Damascus is not happy that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rocked them in Lebanon.

There has been considerable speculation behind the visit to Lebanon of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The generally accepted theory is the egocentric desire of the Iranian leader to bask in the Lebanese sunshine of acceptance as a "protector" against Israel.

With armed Hezbollah militia acting as a local praetorian guard, Ahmadinejad launched himself into public appearances as if he were running for local office. The Hezbollah-guided crowds needed little encouragement to give the diminutive Persian a heroic reception. One would have thought the screaming Lebanese had lost their traditional love of secular advantages in favor of Iran's austerity. One unimpressed local journalist marked the people's reaction by noting cynically, "No matter how they stand (politically) my Lebanese love rock stars."

Ahmadinejad certainly received his rock star welcome and his propagandists played the visit internationally for all it was worth. But the official Iranian flacks had overlooked the timing of the Chilean miners rescue that occupied TV worldwide. In the end, though, it didn't really matter. The boss didn't notice anything. He was in his element grinning and waving at the crowds while shaking his rhetorical fist at Israel.

Behind the scenes, however, is the fact that Syria is increasingly unhappy with the growth of Iranian influence in Lebanese politics. The deal among Hezbollah, Iran, and other Moslem political groups in Beirut always was supposed to be that Damascus would exercise the lead role in Lebanese political life. Recently Syrian intelligence is reported to have substantially infiltrated Hezbollah, aided by a considerable increase in military supplies from Damascus. Ahmadinejad's presence in Lebanon was supposed to counter this and be a reminder to certain Hezbollah leaders of where their original training and support had come.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's heralded visit was as much a regional statement as it was for local Lebanese consumption. The Iranians have a three-pronged offensive in progress: Shia alignment in Iraq, Hamas allegiance in Gaza, and Hezbollah's ruling desires in Lebanon. The Syrians see this as the first steps in an attempt by Tehran's clerical leadership's plan for a Greater Persia -- and Damascus doesn't like what it sees.

The years of competition between the Syrian and Iraqi wings of the Baath Party were abruptly changed with the dissolving of Saddam Hussein's control over Iraq. The Shia of that country never had an important Baath status. It was Saddam's Sunni brethren who dominated and supported Iraq's Baathist pseudo-socialist character. Syria played host to thousands of Sunni Baathists during the U.S. invasion and occupation.

The Shia Alawite leadership of Bashir al-Assad has no interest in allowing the evolution of Iranian Shia suzerainty over Syria's neighbors, Iraq and Lebanon. It must be remembered that Syria is a majority Sunni country. The al-Assad leadership clan is far more instructed by its regional Alawite sect affiliation than its Shia religious consciousness. And this is to say nothing of the long-term friendly coexistence between the Lebanese Maronite Christian Franjieh clan and the extended Assad family going back to the days of 1957 when Hafez al-Assad was a Syrian intelligence officer in charge of protecting the fleeing Suleiman Franjieh (the elder).

None of this has much meaning for Ahmadinejad, who is is intellectually and politically not in the power class of the clerical leadership in Tehran. He will remain around only for as long as Iran's Supreme Leader and his military power center, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, wish him to do so.

The Iranian president's theatrics in Lebanon inadvertently fit right in with Bibi Netanyahu's warnings on Iranian intentions against Israel. From supporters of Obama to opponents of Sarkozy, there have been urgent calls for the Israelis to dial down their rhetoric of fear of the Persian bomb. Perhaps someone should have told Ahmadinejad that the more he rants for the benefit of his followers, the more he loses in terms of Western government restraint on the Israelis.

Parades in Beirut and speeches in a village overlooking the Israeli border serve the purpose of the clerical leadership in Iran in terms of flexing their regional muscle. They want to keep Damascus alert to Tehran's outreach and international status. It also reminds the United States, and the West in general, that they have more than Persian nuclear development to worry about while they are pressing ahead with sanctions.

Greater Persia may seem a dream to some outside of Iran. But in Iran and the region it seeks to dominate, it's real enough. Just ask anyone in Bashar al-Assad's entourage. They still believe in a Greater Syria!

About the Author

George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (12) | Leave a comment

Booger| 10.22.10 @ 6:12AM

Obama invites Iran to play a "role" in the future of Afghanistan, seat Iranian representatives at NATO meeting on Afghanistan policy:
http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....ses-alarm/

From the desk of President B. Hussein Obama

Attention: Classified Information, Level 18 Security Clearance Personnel only:

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

Man, that one's a mouthful! Mind if I just call you AJ? After all, we're on the same side here, right? Listen, about that shipment of explosives that got held up last week, I really don't know what to tell you. You must have marked the boxes wrong somehow on your end. There's no way anybody should have known about that stuff. Maybe you should be a little more careful. I CANNOT get tied to this, okay? I've got enough problems over here already without always having to save your bacon (heh, I love telling you that).

I've got it set up to have NATO forces out of there by next year, so all you have to do is wait until the draw-down starts, then pummel those lunkheads like Barney Frank on a Cirque du Soleil acrobat. I know you don't have any of "those guys" over there to really get that picture, but just take it from me that it won't be pretty. Quite frankly, it'll do me a world of good. Those morons who keep signing up for the armed forces of this failed nation have it coming. Do you know that they actually support the Republicans over Me by a 3 to 1 margin? What kind of loyalty is that? After all, if I'm Commander in Chief, shouldn't I be able to just tell them they all have to vote for Me? Well, if they're stupid enough to keep voting for the other side, then I guess they won't mind dying for Me.

Now listen, here's what I can do for you, and what you can do for Me. I know you need a little more time to get that "special project" up and running. Well, there's only two countries out there who might be able to stop you. Fortunately for you, I'm running one of them, so I can keep the heat off your back from this side. As far as the Israelis go, here's the deal. I will let that mongrel son of a dog and a pig know just where he gets his foreign aid from, and just what will happen if he tries to start anything. After all, we can't have those war-mongering Zionist monkeys harming the peace-loving people of Iran, now can we? If that doesn't work, I can always station a carrier in the Persian Gulf to help with your air defenses. Any Israeli planes trying to make it through will run into a "reverse liberty", if you know what I mean. That ought to buy you all the time you need to get things finished up. My good buddy Rev J. Wright will be really proud of me when he sees how I'm handling those jews. Almost as proud as My father would have been if he could only see Me.

Now, here's what you can do for me. There's nothing to rally the moron, redneck proles of this racist country around their President like the sight of a few of their countrymen getting blown up. So, if someone (wink, wink) were to send another shipment of explosives into Afghanistan, and Someone (wink, wink) else were to make sure this shipment didn't get intercepted, then quite a few "NATO" (yeah, we know whose guys it'll be) troops could get their just recompense for oppressing the Righteous Followers of Allah. And when I get up and give one of My Patented Great Speeches (I think I can even pull off a few tears this time) about their sacrifice, honor, nobility, yada, yada, yada, etc.; then the idiots who vote in this pathetic country won't be able to line up to kiss My shoes fast enough. Just make sure the whole thing goes down between October 25 and 31. My advisers assure me that will be just the right moment for a little pre-election surprise. That ought to turn back the Republican tide and keep My people in power, which in turn will help keep your people in power.

Okay, I think that about covers it for now. Give My best to Hugo, tell him to keep those great W. jokes coming, I can't get enough of them.

Your Friend and Admirer,

President for Life of the United States of Amerikka B. Hussein Obama

Al Adab| 10.22.10 @ 2:35PM

Hello old friend, you left out a K remember J Wright? It's AmeriKKKa.
Keep posting. I hope you publish them all.

John DuBose| 10.22.10 @ 8:15AM

The emerging conflict between Iran and its Sunni neighbors to the west is no joke. Whoever or president is, he/she had better handle it correctly or the whole region will erupt into an awful war.

We may even see Israel on the side of Syria.

On the other hand, this is actually an opportunity in that a stable balance of power might be possible.

Al Adab| 10.22.10 @ 1:32PM

Just consider where such a battle might well be fought. In the valley of Jezreel southest of Haifa near the tell Medigo.

Not a pre-millenialist, but...

Al Adab| 10.22.10 @ 4:24PM

Meggido, my bad.

hardcard| 10.22.10 @ 11:42AM

these peace loving moslem despots should have a fight to the finish, no holds barred to resolve this issue. I'm hoping for the best.

Redstateboy| 10.22.10 @ 3:07PM

It's so regretable we have such a buffoon in our White House.. someone - anyone - more astute could see some advantage in this situation.

led screen| 10.22.10 @ 10:00PM

World peace!!

JA| 10.23.10 @ 11:28PM

Are we here in the USA supposed to care?? Frankly, let the Persians and Arabs just destroy each other. The Arabs have given us world wide terrorism and muslim fanatics. Let the Persians conquer the Arabs and watch how the arab muslim terrorists extremists begin terrorist activities in Iran. As for the Persians, well, give Israel all the weapons they require - including nuclear missiles, and let them handle the Iranians.

Alan Brooks| 10.24.10 @ 10:53PM

"Not a pre-millenialist, but..."

"But"? you know a big war (or wars) will occur in the Mideast and millions will die? Why don't you say so?: what have we got to lose anymore? we are in too deep.