Syrian Dip. Blames Faith for US Policy

Speaking at San Diego State University, Syria's US ambassador Imad Moustapha made the obligatory diplomatic murmurings, but let Syria's, true feelings show when he blamed the pressure his country is now facing on Bush's faith, not Assad's support of terror and repression.

[Moustapha] described overtures of cooperation from Syria, followed by public criticism from the administration "through the media channels."

"They have a plan in the Middle East," Moustapha said. "This is driven by ideology and not politics and what Syria does and does not do."

This sounds like Bill Moyers' recent rants tying End Time prophesy to anti-environmentalism. (here, here, here) Comfortable with lying about Jewish religious beliefs and the motivation of Israel, Moustapha is now trying to use the same aproach to discredit the Bush Doctrine of spreading human rights, freedom and democracy to terrocracies like Syria: It's all just a fanatical Christian scheme to hurry the Battle of Armegeddon.

Biblically, Moustapha has lots to worry about, since that battle would be waged in his backyard. Politically, he should find a safer horse to flog.

Still, Moustapha acknowledged the effectiveness of the Bush Doctrine. Reports the San Diego Union Tribune:

Moustapha said his message to U.S. officials is that Syria is not an enemy, not hostile and is looking to work together. Realpolitik demands it, he said. With the U.S. military in Iraq, Syria now faces the world's superpower as its next-door neighbor, he said.

Another way to read it: Without the US next door, Syria would have no reason not to continue its funding of terrorism and other hostile ways, and would only work against us, not with us. Go Bush!