Ignore what you read in Western press by correspondents who don't know Arabic and who don't understand Arab politics. I have watched some of the speech of Bashshar and read the full text, this was one of the biggest propaganda spectacles in contemporary Arab politics. It was a huge bonanza for the regime and boosted the propaganda standing of Bashshar. The text was very intelligently and polemically written and the spectacle of the oath ceremony was fit for a Goebbelsian event. The entire spectacle and its choreography was the work of brilliant propaganda experts. Forget about my own critique (regarding the false sense of triumphalism and the bogus references to national unity and his critique of the Arab peace initiative of Saudi King when his own regime agreed to that initiative in the Beirut summit of 2002), you need to see how this speech will be seen and measured. His employment of satire and humor was nothing short of brilliant as was his address to the Syrian people as was his assembly of some of Syria's top artists and singers in the audience. (Sami Kulayb, a pro-Syrian regime writer in Lebanon talks about the speech and its impact and hints that Bashshar had received advice regarding a change of tone in his speeches). His attacks on Gulf rulers especially Saudi Arabia was quite biting and the success of the speech and the event can be measured by the deep annoyance expressed on websites of media of Saudi princes. Bashshar clearly learned from the bad examples of Bin Ali, Mubarak, and Qadhdhafi and their speeches during the uprisings and took a different course altogether by avoiding giving speeches. This was an exception but of a different caliber and direction. I don't know what will happen in Syria next, but this propaganda spectacle will be registered in his favor for sure. The speech itself has his won touches and syntax but it also for the first time has the mark of other writers and experts.
PS No one in the Western press or in the Arabic press mentioned that the palace where Bashshar took his presidential oath was constructed by Rafiq Hariri who is now described in the Western press as "courageous foe of the Syrian regime". I loved the irony of the moment.
PS No one in the Western press or in the Arabic press mentioned that the palace where Bashshar took his presidential oath was constructed by Rafiq Hariri who is now described in the Western press as "courageous foe of the Syrian regime". I loved the irony of the moment.
