Expert on the Syrian military? Ways of the Times

"Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general and an expert on the Syrian military".  Wait: wait, and wait.  Since when is Hanna an expert on the Syrian military? You just slapped that specialty on him for no reason except to give credibility to your report. The New York Times and all Western media do that: they bring in an anti-Syrian (often racistly anti-Syrian) Lebanese March 14 figures and then make them "experts" on whatever topic they wish to add an indigenous expert cover to.  Let us say that they are talking about potatoes in Syria: then, Hanna would become instantly an expert on Syrian potato.  Whatever it takes.  Hanna of course is an expert for the right-wing MTV station in Lebanon and his expertise has eluded me from watching him over the years.