DAMASCUS, 15 October 2005 — Uncertainty blankets the nation. Full chaos in neighboring Iraq on the eastern border. Deaths and assassinations in the tiny neighbor Lebanon. A UN team investigating an alleged Syrian role in the Feb. 14 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
And finally the earthshaking news at home: The country’s strong man and Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan commits suicide at his office midday! Yet, Syrians insist to lead their normal life and shoulder their way into the unknown amidst a sea of rumors and scenarios about the future awaiting the nation!
“Look at the giant Mount of Qassion overlooking Damascus; it will remain unshaken forever regardless all plots and scenarios,” said Abu Lutfi while watching hundreds of shoppers who crowded at the Sheikh Saad traditional market to buy their various Ramadan items hours before Iftar yesterday.
Abu Lutfi, a shopkeeper in his 50s, said that he is hundred percent sure that “all the big noise made around Syria in Iraq, Lebanon, and elsewhere is meant only to terrify the country and force it to sign a peace deal with Israel according to Tel Aviv terms and conditions.”
Mariam Khidir, a doctor, opted to differ saying that the plots and scenarios are very serious this time and the country is targeted. “National unity is the only answer as our President Dr. Bashar Assad put it few days back. All Syrians should be unified to confront the forthcoming storm,” she said.
Mariam said that Syrians should wait for no backing from Arab countries or other parts of the world since the world superpower, America, has gone overtly hostile and US troops are sitting next door in Iraq waiting for the White House signal to conquer Damascus. “Arabs have never done any real support, and the only hope we have is to get unified behind our political leadership,” she said.
Syrians now are afraid that Mehlis report, expected to be leased on Oct. 21, will be politicized to give the country’s enemies the required excuses to target Damascus. They believe that in case the report named any Syrian suspects in Hariri killing, the country would be isolated and the sanctions will be internationalized to include more countries rather than the US.
Very few Syrians feel now that there will be a sort of bargain between Washington and Damascus to soften the tone of Mehlis report to rule out any Syrian role in Hariri’s assassination in return of full Syrian compliance with other American demands on Iraq and the Middle East peace process. Syrians believe that Damascus is not used to bargains.
Observers here also rule out other scenarios such as that Damascus will be working hard to convince its ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah, and press it to disarm and implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1559 as demanded by Washington in a bid to absorb America’s wrath.
Moreover, Syrians view with some suspicion and disbelief scenarios and rumors by some opposition groups and circles abroad pertaining to the regime change in Syria. They believe that rumors leaked about a “possible Syrian role in Hariri assassination,” particularly those fabricated by some Lebanese media channels, were but part of a plot to jeopardize stability and security in Syria and influence its leadership.
“We Syrians do not believe in the theory of the ‘corned scorpion’ which stings itself when forced against the wall. Hence, spreading rumors such as the Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan had been killed and not committed suicide finds no real market in the country.
Such rumors are part of the plans targeting Syria since Kanaan has been one of the main pillars of the Syrian regime for decades and it is absurd to believe that he was killed due to differences with the government,” said a Syrian analyst.
