As Iraq, in fits and starts, begins finding its way to self-rule, the center of gravity of the Bush Doctrine and the American democratization project shifts to Lebanon/Syria. The rapid evacuation and collapse of the Syrian position in Lebanon is crucial not just because of what it will do for Lebanon but because of the weakening effect it will have on the Assad dictatorship.
We need, therefore, to be relentless in insisting on a full (and as humiliating as possible) evacuation of Syria from Lebanon, followed by a campaign of economic, political and military pressure on the Assad regime. We must push now and push hard.
Winds of Change has a great round up of analysis including this from Hanson.It seems fitting to leave the last word to Victor Davis Hanson:
"It used to be that if Americans were not convinced that they were perfect, then they despaired that they were no good — and so pulled out. Not now. We have weathered everything from Michael Moore to Abu Ghraib, and come out on the other end to hear former Arab terrorists and leftwing British and German newspapers now suddenly asking, "Was George Bush Right?"
The wily Europeans tended to ignore or profit from Arab tyranny. But not now. Even they are scrambling to make sure that their vaunted "soft power" is not made irrelevant by this new type of American idealism backed by force.
What is the lesson from all this? Far more enduring than terrorism and death itself is freedom. That is what Bashar Assad fears will do him in.
And he is right. It will."
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