The Siren Call Of “Engagement”

Tony Badran on how the Syrians are playing the French president:

The most obvious problem for Sarkozy, however, is that Syria, predictably, hasn’t delivered anything […] This is where the Syrian quicksand typically swallows foolish “engagers” whole. Since the process, and the illusion of a big political return, is clearly important to Sarkozy, he cannot and will not admit failure. Instead, he continues to double down — and continues to sink deeper

Syria is a seductress who dangles wonderful possibilities before your eyes, but after taking everything, gives nothing. Even carla Bruni couldn’t pull this one off on president Sarkozy.