Despite their obvious political differences, President Bush and Syrian dictator Bashar Assad have one thing in common: they both like to lash out against the media. Bush recently blamed 'Newsweek' for publishing a story that he claimed undermined American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Assad took his shots against the media and modern technology during a Baath Party Congress on Monday in Damascus where he claimed the modern media left Arabs 'swamped by disinformation.'

The real objective of Assad's tirade was to put down the west and America in particular. The availability of the Internet and satellite television means that the Syrian dictator can no longer limit his people's access to only state approved media sources.

Assad, addressing a Baath party Congress claimed that, 'The ultimate objective of all this is the destruction of Arab identity; for the enemies of the Arab nation are opposed to our possessing any identity or upholding any creed that could protect our existence and cohesion, guide our vision and direction, or on which we can rely in our steadfastness. We must face this situation with great awareness, responsibility and defiance.'

Syria has been under a lot of pressure recently from the international community and from Washington in particular. Such pressure led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon last month after nearly 30 years of occupation of that country.

The United States has also been critical of Syria for its support of international terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and for its alleged support for the insurgency in Iraq.

Assad claimed that the 'forces behind' modern trends sought 'the cultural, political and moral collapse of the Arab individual and his ultimate defeat without a fight. They simply aim at transforming us into a negative, reactive mass, which absorbs everything that is thrown at it without the will or even the possibility of thinking or rejecting or accepting it.'

In addition to lashing out against the West, Assad spoke out in favor of economic reforms and against corruption saying, 'We need mechanisms to fight corruption that are more effective.' He added, 'The economic situation and improving living standards represent a priority for us.'

Opposition forces in Syria said they did not expect much from the Congress. They suspect it was designed to enhance Syria's image in the international community but would lead to little substantial change.

This is the first Baath Party Congress held in the last five years.