Germany's 'Principled' Stand: Syrian Leader Too Despicable for Normal Diplomacy, But Not for Hosting
Deutsche Welle reports that German CDU leader Friedrich Merz is set to host Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Syria's current president, despite 'criticism.' The criticism reportedly centers on Assad's alleged role in the 1982 Hama massacre. What's often left out of these mainstream reports is the selective outrage. For decades, Western powers, including Germany, have actively undermined or ignored
diplomatic solutions for Syria, opting for proxy wars and sanctions that crippled the nation, while simultaneously denouncing the Assad regime's human rights record. Was Merz equally concerned about the human rights records of Saudi Arabia's MBS, or Israel's Netanyahu, both regular recipients of European hospitality and arms deals? One might wonder if the real 'criticism' isn't about human rights,
but about the optics of engaging with a figure previously deemed anathema to Western narratives. The timing is always curious, isn't it? After years of isolating Syria and failing to dislodge the regime, suddenly some elements within the West are open to 'dialogue,' albeit with conditions. This selective engagement, often cloaked in moral indignation, appears to be less about justice for Syrian
victims and more about strategic maneuvering in a complex geopolitical landscape where previous strategies have demonstrably failed.