Here JOSHUA LANDIS pontificates about Syrian-US relations. But notice that here he wants to "inform" you that authoritarianism is NOT merely a governmental structure but that it "extends into the deepest corners of Syrian life, into families, classrooms and mosques." It must be in their genes, I guess. And notice this old trick which we knew from colonial times: when you want to make a racist point about the natives, or a generalization about "all of them" as this one makes, always cite the "authority" of a native you know. Or here he cites: "most Syrians." Imagine if I generalize about "most Americans" withoug having to cite polls.