Democracy in Syria?

Fire of Liberty

Arnold Beichman of the Hoover Institute has a wonderful column in yesterday's Washington Times on why Syria's Bashar Assad is yet another despot that the Middle East should be free from. As Beichman notes, Assad has to be removed from his position as dictator for life because he continues to use his iron grasp to spread death and fear throughout the region. Whether it's the continued support of the terrorists entering Iraq by refusing to secure its borders with Iraq, providing sanctuary for the terrorists in the various terror camps that dot Syria as well as the continued policy of assassinating democratic leaders and journalists of Lebanon who espouse an anti-Syrian view, Assad has demonstrated that he has as much blood on his hands as his father and his fellow Ba'athist Saddam. Beichman put it best when he noted:

I urge Miss Rice to visit Lebanon at the first possible opportunity and thus make something clear to Bashar Assad about President Bush's policies:

In addition to seeking the globalization of democracy, the American people will support existing democracies like Lebanon or democracies waiting to be born, like Iraq. America supported the rebuilding of a democratic Germany and Italy after World War II in face of the Soviet threat. A similar policy against the Syrian threat ought to be pursued in a Middle East where Arab democratic progress is just beginning to be visible.

The most important immediate action the U.S. could undertake today is to send Miss Rice on a visit to Lebanon and thereby notify Bashar Assad: One false move, brother, and you've had it, see? Any more planted auto bombs, any more assassinations of Lebanese leaders, past and present, and you will be held responsible, with or without the United Nations.

President Bush has made it clear he wants a world of democracies in order to ensure world peace. Lebanon is under the gun, a Syrian gun. With Bashar Assad as a neighbor, Lebanese democracy will always be threatened.

Mr. Bush helped rid the Iraqi people of a tyrant now in Allied custody awaiting trial for three decades of terror and murder. Bashar Assad wants to prevent the continued existence of a successful democracy next door. It is time to consider getting rid of the Assad dictatorship. What are we waiting for?

Here, Here!!!, Mr. Beichman should continue to write such pieces and keep the heat on Assad. Hopefully, the people of Syria will retire Assad soon.