The Walid And Saud Show

Is Syria being ostracized?


TV reports are rife with news of tension between the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and his Arab counter-parts in Beirut. The Arab FMs had agreed to come to Beirut in a gathering of solidarity, but Mr. Muallem came before everyone else and made a regal statement from Lahhoud’s presidential palace reminiscent of the old days of Syrian dominance.

The entrance Mr. Muallem made was that of a peacock. His exit however one of
disgrace. He left early for Damascus without making any statements. He was being treated like a pariah among the Ministers. Mr. Sanioura had all but ignored his request to replace the word “resistance” with the word “Hezbollah” in the final communique, which refused that be Lebanon be used as a stage for external conflicts. Reports have it that Mr. Muallem has also verbally clashed with the Saudi F.M.

The symbolism of Mecca being the location of the next emergency Arab summit can’t be missed. Will the Syrian president attend the event in the Sunni heartland? The Arabs are now visibly hostile towards Syria. The message seems to be:
Make your choice, do you want to side with us or with the Persians?

**Update**
Anton has a very good detailed post on the topic

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