Syria shouldn’t be demonised
Ignore the hype: Syria shouldn’t be demonised
The Asad regime is not as wicked as US sources argue
In the autumn of 1994 I was looking at Byzantine churches on the Syrian-Israeli border for my book From the Holy Mountain. Telephoning home, I heard that one of the broadsheets had run a series of prominent stories claiming that Syria was mobilising its troops for an invasion of Israel. The paper described the roads jammed with Soviet-built tanks heading for the Golan Heights.
As I happened to be in the area concerned, I could see that the story was completely false: the only movements I could see were of donkeys carrying olives from the harvest to their villages. Yet the story continued to run for several issues, before being dropped without explanation. Only many months later did it emerge that a rogue Israeli agent in Damascus had been feeding his masters the false information which came close to bringing the two countries to open war.
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André Hattingh
October 25th, 2007 6:54amI have loved the Speccie for more years than I have digits but I really think the Editor should have "Fisked" Dalrymple's article!
Howard Rogers
October 25th, 2007 10:29amGreat piece. This article (along with those by the brilliant Emma Williams) help dispel The Spectator's new reputation of being just an outlet for the propaganda of Washington extremists. Can we have more from Mr Dalrymple?
john fletcher
October 25th, 2007 5:57pmA really first rate piece of journalism. Written, refreshingly, from a position of knowledge and common sense, not ignorance and prejudice.
David Williamson
October 25th, 2007 6:39pmI also enjoy the Spectator, but sometimes the Editor lets articles through that belong more in the Guardian (no doubt to give the impression of balance). Mr Dalyrymple is outa date on the situation in Iraq, where the terrorists are dying or running, rather than playing and training. Can we have more Theodore and less William?
Bob Shead
November 24th, 2007 6:32amWilliam Dalrymple's article hits the nail exactly on the head - an excellent article. Having lived and worked in Syria from 82-87, I can confirm that there is a great deal of religious tolerance. There were 83 different practicing religious faiths in Syria, and the first time in my life I attended a synagogue was in Damascus for an Iranian jewish friends wedding - the guest of honour was the then Syrian Minister of Defence!! For the US to even consider destabilisation of the Syrian Government is totally crazy! Words fail me!!