Joe has it right. Only time will tell. In the meantime, my BS detector tells me that Saddam's half-brother is a trophy. That's all. A fancy prize of no real value. The real catch would have been Izzat Ibrahim al-Dhouri, the paymaster. Pardon my paranoia, but it would be typical of Baby Assad to round up a passel of minor figures so that he can go on protecting the real malefactor, al-Dhouri.
Notice that the Iraqi government press release is full of the usual guff about "We are tightening the noose around al-Zarqawi." Yeah. When have we heard that before? I'm praying that this last snarky bit will leave me with egg on my face. The sooner the better. Only time will tell.
I think the fact the Syrians handed him over is a good sign. It means the good eye-doctor would rather not fight the US. I would also contend that if the Syrians will make one concessions, even a non-consequential one, they'll make another. I interpret Syria's move as one of weakness.
It doesn’t mean the Syrians are going to surrender tomorrow, but it shows they’re worried – and that’s a good thing.
I'm hoping the US pulls out all the stops here, but I don't know what all that would entail.
Clearly the three biggest problem regimes in the region are Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. For a variety of reasons I've always felt that excessive truculence toward the Saudis is a bad idea--mostly because, fairly or not, it would send the message that we are against the entire Islamic world. Rightly or wrongly, the fact that the Saudis hold Mecca and Medina makes overt hostility toward them a very tricky business. So despite some on the right's impatience, I think we basically have the right attitude toward the Saudies right now. Pressuring them for reforms over time seems best.
Notice that the Iraqi government press release is full of the usual guff about "We are tightening the noose around al-Zarqawi." Yeah. When have we heard that before? I'm praying that this last snarky bit will leave me with egg on my face. The sooner the better. Only time will tell.
It doesn’t mean the Syrians are going to surrender tomorrow, but it shows they’re worried – and that’s a good thing.
Family in the troika = Syrians
Infant = al Hassan
Wolves = Americans
Clearly the three biggest problem regimes in the region are Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. For a variety of reasons I've always felt that excessive truculence toward the Saudis is a bad idea--mostly because, fairly or not, it would send the message that we are against the entire Islamic world. Rightly or wrongly, the fact that the Saudis hold Mecca and Medina makes overt hostility toward them a very tricky business. So despite some on the right's impatience, I think we basically have the right attitude toward the Saudies right now. Pressuring them for reforms over time seems best.
Syria and Iran, however....