Khaddam and Syria [Archives:2006/910/Letters to the Editor]

Barkatullah Marwat
[email protected]
Syria's ruling Baath Party has expelled former Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam following an immature and dangerous statement by him that President Bashar Al-Assad had threatened Rafik al Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister, who was assassinated last February. Syrian parliament has unanimously voted to put Mr Khaddam on trial for treason.

In my view, what Mr Khaddam said is, in a sense, more than treason. The West, especially the United States, is looking for excuses to take on Syria despite the fact that Damascus striving for regional peace and security. Neutral observers also believe that the efforts to implicate Syria in the assassination of Rafik Hariri is yet another attempt to build case for aggression against Syria. Under these circumstances, the statement of Mr Khaddam amounts to betrayal of his own homeland.

In fact, Khaddam enjoyed status of number two personality in Syria for a long time and therefore, his tirade against his own country is not without motive. This highly irresponsible statement could lead to a series of misfortunes for Syria.

It appears that Khaddam has ultimately fallen to the West. This is yet another example of Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs bringing miseries to the Ummah for the sake of petty personal gains and interests.
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