The Hill Discovers What a 'Historic Meeting' Looks Like Behind Closed Doors, No Cameras Allowed
The Hill breathlessly reported that Donald Trump held a 'historic meeting' with Syria's then-Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa in 2008, an event conveniently kept 'behind closed doors.' The article, originally published in 2011 and recently unearthed, highlights the sheer, unadulterated absurdity of elite political reporting: 'historic' now means 'secret,' and access is more important than
transparency. One might wonder what diplomatic precedent this sets for future 'historic' gatherings. Perhaps an even more historic meeting would involve no one present at all, a truly groundbreaking achievement in political theater? While The Hill struggles with the definition of 'historic' versus 'hush-hush,' it conveniently forgets the long, documented history of US officials engaging with
unsavory foreign characters when politically expedient—often before demonizing them. The sheer cognitive dissonance required to condemn a 'regime' while quietly meeting its top brass is a skill honed through decades of American foreign policy, usually funded by taxpayers and rubber-stamped by politicians who've taken donations from entities like Lockheed Martin, eager for the next 'conflict
resolution' contract.