"ALL CAPS IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY IS NO VICE."

Sunday, January 08, 2006

HAS ASSAD JUST ARRANGED HIS EXILE?

These two news items caught my eye:

(1) JEDDAH ("Reuters") -
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew to talks on Lebanon with Saudi Arabia's king on Sunday, a day after diplomats said Assad had rejected a U.N. request to interview him about a former Lebanese prime minister's murder. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal announced the summit during a surprise visit to Damascus earlier on Sunday, in what analysts said was a Saudi effort to persuade Syria to cooperate with a U.N. probe and prevent international isolation.
(2) RIYADH, Jan 8 (KUNA) --
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left Jeddah on Sunday wrapping up an official visit during which he had talks with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz. He was seen off at the International Airport by King Abdallah, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdelaziz as well as senior Saudi military and civilian officials. The Saudi-Syrian summit concluded in Jeddah earlier today underlined need for enhancing the Syrian-Lebanese ties, call for pull out of the Israeli troops from the occupied Arab territories and activating the activities of the joint Saudi-Syrian committee.
I don't think that this visit was all about the UN and Lebanon. I think that maybe the Saudis have offered Assad political asylum. WHY!? They are a good ally of ours and we want Assad GONE. AND, after all, IDI AMIN, the genocidal Muslim tyrant of Uganda, lived out his days in the Kingdom - TWENTY YEARS WORTH OF DAYS, only dying in 2003.

It's just a guess. Or wishful thinking, maybe. STAY TUNED...

UPDATE/AP:
Syrian President Bashar Assad made surprise journeys to Egypt and Saudi Arabia Sunday, seeking support from Arab leaders as he faces an unprecedented challenge from a defecting ex-vice president and alleged Syrian involvement in the assassination of a former Lebanese leader.

Arab diplomats said the efforts were focused on finding a face-saving way for Assad to deal with the most recent interview request by the U.N. team investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The diplomats, who refused use of their names because of the sensitivity of the talks, said one proposal being put to Assad called for him to send an envoy to take the investigators' questions. Assad would then provide written answers and send them back to investigators.
That's their story and they're sticking to it.

2 comments:

Gandalin said...

One problem with your suggestion may be in the fact that, as far as I know, Assad is not a Muslim, although Idi Amin was. That doesn't mean he wouldn't be welcome in Jeddah, but he might not be entirely comfortable in Saudi Arabia.

Reliapundit said...

i can't think of a SAFER place for Assad.

there are not too many alawite countries for him to go to.

hios options are limited: he can go to a muslim country, a mixed muslim non-muslim country, or a non-muslim country.

perhaps france would offer him asylum or sweden. but they would not be beyond the reach of mossad or his other NUMEROUS enemies.

i think that the kingdom is tryannical enough to offer him SECURITY. not many can do that. and in saudiland, he would retain the ability to live in the manner to which he has become accustomed. the saudi are used to caterring to luxury-crazed tyrants.

i'll stick with my guess and raise it to.... prediction.