Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad claims that his nation is being made a scapegoat in the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In fact, Assad asserts that Syria is being blamed for the ills of the entire region.
Hariri was killed on February 14 in Beirut shortly after openly opposing the ongoing Syrian occupation of Lebanon. Damascus had occupied Lebanon and controlled its government for nearly three decades prior to this year when international outcry over Hariri’s assassination pressured Syria into leaving the country.
The United Nations chief investigator into Hariri’s death, German prosecutor Detley Mehlis, issued a preliminary report that implicated Syria in Hariri’s death and blamed Damascus for not cooperating with his investigation.
Assad disputed claims that his government was not cooperating with U.N. investigators during a rare nationally televised speech given at Damascus University. The Syrian president also lashed out against the West and accused Syria’s enemies of trying to cause disunity in his country. Although he did not mention the United States by name, it was clear he was referring to the U.S. when he said, “We must be steadfast in facing this foreign attack,” Assad said. “We don’t want to mention names, but you know who I’m talking about.”
Many Syrian political leaders were disappointed by the speech because it lacked reforms. Assad’s power base has been weakened since the forced withdrawal from Lebanon and his government has been under increasing pressure of late.
Assad failed to state whether or not he would make six high government officials available to Mr. Mehlis for questioning in connection with Hariri’s murder. Mehlis had asked that the six be sent to Lebanon for questioning but Assad refused to say whether or not they would be complying with the request.
The United States has put increasing pressure on Syria for allegedly allowing foreign jihadists to enter Iraq through Syrian territory. Assad has denied these allegations as well. The U.S. had threatened U.N. sanctions against Syria if it failed to cooperate in the Hariri investigation and/or if it continued to allow foreign terrorist elements to enter Iraq. Assad continued to be defiant and prepared his people for possible sanctions. He told the audience, “This region has two options: chaos or resistance. In the end we’re going to win, one way or another, even if it lasts a long time.”
