Galt's Gulch

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  • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 9 years ago
    If the United States ever sought to build a pro-Western, democratic government in the Arab/Islamic matrix, Syria could have been a good place to start. The Assad governments have always been secularist. That was why Syria had no problem accepting military aid from the USSR. The Muslim Brotherhood was opposed to Hafez al-Assad, the father of the current president, Bashar al-Assad, because he liberalized trade and commerce, opening up economic opportunities. (Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafez_a.... Dr. Bashar al-Assad was practicing pediatric ophthalmology in London when his brother was killed in a car crash. (Wikipedia, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashar_... So, he returned home to take over the family business, running Syria. Instead of supporting his government, the United States made an enemy out of a man who had been dedicated to healing problems with eyesight in children by means of science.
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    • Posted by Lucky 9 years ago
      Is this an argument to support Bashar al-Assad and his government?
      Just because his regime is secularist does not excuse the widespread use of torture and murder.
      " dedicated to healing problems with eyesight in children by means of science" is a rather disingenuous statement considering the estimate of 200,000 deaths -by the government- since he took over.

      A case can be made for non-intervention, but support, surely not.
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      • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 9 years ago
        I agree that the door is probably very closed with Bashar al-Assad's government now. Miraculous healing would be in order all the way around. Moreover, as the president, he is assigned responsibility for everything done under his command: the captain and the ship and all that... However, if you read even the Wikipedia articles, you see that he probably has very little affect on the problems. He was never intended to rule. He has no experience at leadership or any work history in government. Like President Obama, Bashar al-Assad is an empty suit, certainly now. "What if" is game to play, because we cannot change the past.
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        • Posted by Lucky 9 years ago
          Yes. The current Assad is a disappointment, no doubt to himself as well, a stronger personality could have become a benevolent dictator, or refused the temptation like Galt.
          'What if' games. Useful if there is the ability to learn from experience, rare in those with political skills.
          Otherwise a good guide would be- if in doubt, keep out.
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