New Syrian “Policy” On Lebanon

Syria insider Joshua Landis explains Syria’s new let’s-pretend-everyone-is-stupid policy towards Lebanon:

Syria’s new policy on Lebanon, begun with president’s speech two weeks ago, is to stop public pronouncements on Lebanon, tell Western diplomats what they want to hear — that Syria will do what it can in Lebanon — yet, at the same time, explain that the West must go to Lebanon to find answers. The public stand is that Lebanon’s problems are her own and Syria cannot do much about it. This is, of course, posturing and fits the Western insistence that Syria must not play a role, which Syria refuses. The result is that Syria and the West will both pretend that no one is influencing Lebanon. It is a good pretend policy.