Can someone tell Anne Barnard that Hafidh Al-Asad took over in 1970 and not in 1971?

"In 2000, Mr. Assad succeeded his father, Hafez, who had governed since 1971."  I suggest that the New York Times hires a Middle East fact checker to go over all dispatches by Ms. Barnard.  But then again, who cares about accuracy and facts when the propaganda message is rendered?