Two days ago, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad promised the world that the "security" forces had ended their incursions into Homs, Latakia, and the rest of Syria, where, since March, they have been shooting at and killing civilians, arresting innocent citizens, subjecting those arrested to beatings, torture and death, and allowing armored tanks to fire indiscriminately into neighborhoods. All because the Syrian people want to be rid of al-Assad and his security forces and choose their government for themselves.
Since his promise on Thursday, al-Assad's forces have pounded Homs, taken prisoners, killed more Syrian citizens and rounded up many civilians in Latakia.
Does he think we're all stupid, or that we don't really care how much harm and terror he inflicts on his own people?
Or was he simply doing a little "tidying up" of recalcitrants before the UN delegation arrives on Sunday? Because it might look bad if there were street marches during their visit. Or, since it is obvious that no amount of terror tactics from hoodlum security units is going to stop the Syrian people from trying to oust al-Assad and his cronies, did he just want to lower the risk of being embarrassed in the presence of his UN guests.
I really don't know the answer.
But, I do know until today, the world has been dealing with Bashar al-Assad as if he were normal, as if he could respond to reason, as if talking and cajoling and threatening could make him stop his murderous assault on innocent people.
The world was wrong.
Bashar al-Assad is a raving lunatic. He prefers murder to discussion. He prefers security sweeps to sitting down with the Syrian people to try to work out a future for the country. He prefers lying about his motives and his activities to telling the truth.
Does this remind you, dear readers, of anyone else? Moummar Qadhafi perhaps?
So, we now have two madmen to deal with.
Bombs and soldiers seem to be doing the job in Libya. Why not try them in Syria?
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