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The Spectacle Blog

Syrian Agents Assault and Detain American Diplomat

By John Tabin on 4.29.11 @ 11:17PM

Amidst this week's Middle East news one startling event has escaped the attention it deserves. According to news reports such as this one in The Wall Street Journal, an American diplomat in Damascus was detained and then "hooded by Syrian security agents and ‘roughed up' before being released."

This is a remarkable development. For one thing, it sums up as well as any anything could what the Obama Administration has gained from two years of buttering up the Assad regime, loosening sanctions, letting them into the World Trade Organization, sending an ambassador to Damascus, and making believe Assad is a reformer. It has gained us Assad's contempt.

How did the United States react to this unprecedented, illegal action against the diplomatic immunity of our Embassy personnel? Why, we "formally protested." That means we called Syria's despicable ambassador into the State Department and told him this was terrible and must not be repeated.

That is not a serious response. If I were an American diplomat in a trouble spot, I would be hoping for a lot more than that-for example, in these circumstances, for throwing the Syrian ambassador out of this country. Our own ambassador in Damascus should never have been sent, was sent over the objections of Congress as a recess appointment, and should be recalled immediately.

Indeed. At this point one has to wonder what, if anything, would convince the White House to treat Assad like the enemy that he is -- an enemy who, as Lee Smith argues, is as malignant as anything that could concievably replace him.

View all comments (8) | Leave a comment

JimH| 4.30.11 @ 6:57AM

At this point the Dear Leader should be quoting Groucho Marx or Bugs Bunny, 'Of course you know this means war'

Mimi| 4.30.11 @ 7:29AM

EVERY person, who lives in these United States who is Middle Eastern, ARAB, and Muslim and not a LEGAL citizen ....should leave now ! When the violent element problem is SOLVED by them, our immigration can resume.
We must at the same time , quickly become energy dependent on ourselves and hemisphere neighbors. What ever becomes of the Middle east is on them we Must have a policy to come HOME! The transition will be painful but....The current policy is going nowhere....They must be truly free from us to either destroy themselves or begin to join the FAMILY of Nations.
Politically in this country the Person WHO changes our course in their rhetoric will get elected. We have given these savage like barbarians who would slice off all our heads, too much POWER that they do not deserve....Gone with them all...out off our mist...our tax money should be spent on our own NEEDS not battle - money !

David W| 4.30.11 @ 9:46AM

Perhaps we should be asking "what does Assad have on Obama and company?" "What deals have been made in the past that would embarrass Obama if they were released by the Syrians?"

If there were deals that Bush or the Republicans had made they would be public now. There must be something that is causing Obama and company to play nice - maybe Assad knows where Obama's real birth certificate is???!!!??

Glein| 4.30.11 @ 11:39AM

Assad was trying to "reform" the State Department. Hillary? Hillary? Bueller?

PattyMor| 4.30.11 @ 1:56PM

If Assad from a freedom loving capitalist, Obama
would pull his diplomats from Syria. As such, the kitten mewls and writes a letter.

Bob K.| 4.30.11 @ 5:19PM

Mr. Tabin,
When are you going to write a column explaining in some detail why a Sunni led government would be better for Syria and the United States than it's current Alawite government is?

This constant calling for change which in all likelihood will be violent is irresponsible on your part and will likely result in putting more American troops at risk. It is time you discussed this internecine feud in Syria in more detail and explained how a peaceful settlement can be accomplished without the inevitable bloodshed which is all too common in Syria and Lebanon.

C Bowen| 4.30.11 @ 6:46PM

Why would one take Abrams as a serious source? He is almost sunk Reagan with his shameless, criminal act.

Mike W| 5.1.11 @ 11:04AM

Quoting Elliot Abrams is a new low for this blogger's credibility. He is a shameless, sniveling neocon wimp. In the comfort of his feather bed he yearns for the American fighting man to kill more Muslims. He never served. Never risked his miserable hide in anything other than possibly developing a corn in his Guccis.