Happy Warrior

MY enemy’s enemy is my friend. But America has so many enemies they must occasionally feel they’ve got way too many friends. Consider, for example, Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s President-for-Life, at least for another week or two. Back in his dad’s day, Syria got the kid-glove treatment from the world’s A-list suck-ups: When Hafez al-Assad expired, President Clinton said he was “saddened” by it, and offered his “condolences” to “the Syrian people.” At least he didn’t go to the funeral—Jacques Chirac did.

Alas, things have changed since Pop Assad’s day. Baby Assad, before his present eminence, was a London eye doctor, but you don’t have to be an ophthalmologist to see the writing on the wall. Instead of Clinton, Chirac, et al., he attracts George Galloway, British Member of Parliament and Saddamite shill. Speaking at the Assad National Library in Damascus in July, the British MP did his best to perk Junior up. In an interview afterward, Galloway said, “Syria is lucky to have Bashar al-Assad as her president.” All this went down so well they asked him back last month. And, speaking this time at Damascus University, he cooed, “All dignified people in the world, whether Arabs or Muslims or others with dignity, are very proud of the speech made by President Bashar al-Assad a few days ago here in Damascus.” I guess I missed that one.

About the Author

Mark Steyn

Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human-rights activist.

Featured Tags

Manage following

Bashar Assad

MY enemy’s enemy is my friend. But America has so many enemies they must occasionally feel they’ve got way too many friends. Consider, for example, Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s President-for-Life, at least for another week or two. Back in his dad’s day, Syria got the kid-glove treatment from the world’s A-list suck-ups: When Hafez al-Assad expired, President Clinton said he was “saddened” by it, and offered his “condolences” to “the Syrian people.” At least he didn’t go to the funeral—Jacques Chirac did.

Alas, things have changed since Pop Assad’s day. Baby Assad, before his present eminence, was a London eye doctor, but you don’t have to be an ophthalmologist to see the writing on the wall. Instead of Clinton, Chirac, et al., he attracts George Galloway, British Member of Parliament and Saddamite shill. Speaking at the Assad National Library in Damascus in July, the British MP did his best to perk Junior up. In an interview afterward, Galloway said, “Syria is lucky to have Bashar al-Assad as her president.” All this went down so well they asked him back last month. And, speaking this time at Damascus University, he cooed, “All dignified people in the world, whether Arabs or Muslims or others with dignity, are very proud of the speech made by President Bashar al-Assad a few days ago here in Damascus.” I guess I missed that one.