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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Teh Internets / War / International Murdering Dictators: They're Just Like Us!

Posted by Goldy on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 4:17 PM

The Guardian has gotten ahold of a cache of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's email, and yeah, sure, he may be a mass-murdering baby-killing war criminal, but in many ways he's just an ordinary guy.

For example, Assad enjoys using his iPad to swap "entertaining internet links" like this YouTube of a re-enactment of the brutal siege of Homs using biscuits and toys. Ha-ha, funny!

The 46-year-old Baathist tyrant also enjoys downloading music from iTunes, although given US economic sanctions, he has to use a buddy with an American address to help him with his downloads. And as for Mrs. Assad, well, she turns out to be quite an avid online shopper, her many purchases including a fondue set she instructed an aide to order through Amazon. Amazon delivers!

On a more serious note, the emails provide a fascinating look into the Assad regime, and some of the behind the scenes diplomatic efforts to diffuse the situation, including a correspondence between Assad's wife and the daughter of the emir of Qatar, in which the latter repeatedly attempts to persuade the Assads to go into exile. Interesting stuff.

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The banality of evil.

Posted by thatsnotright on March 14, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Hiding a tank?? Unpossible!

Posted by YoungBS on March 14, 2012 at 5:34 PM

Goldy,
Speaking of "murdering dictators" should this tyrant be targeted by the US or any other agency? The Obama Administration already targeted and killed via Predator drones two American citizens in Yemen. What would be wrong with killing a "murdering dictator" such as Assad? He and his army have much blood on their hands. The UN doesn't appear to be doing much. And, while we didn't kill Qaddafi, we did "intervene" in Libya.

Look, you don't have to answer this. But, I am curious as how Liberals would feel if that happened (ie. killed Assad or intervened in some fashion.

Posted by lark on March 14, 2012 at 6:26 PM

He also tortures - just like us!

Posted by tshicks on March 14, 2012 at 6:30 PM

@3 I'm not sure we can afford another war right now.

Posted by Ken Mehlman on March 14, 2012 at 7:06 PM

Clearly we should sic the reply girls on him. Or maybe Tila Tequila.

Posted by Greg on March 14, 2012 at 10:24 PM

@3 while I can't speak to what "liberals" may or may not think, there is at least one important difference between Assad and the father-son duo our President assassinated via drone strike in Yemen. Assad is not actively advocating war upon and death to Americans. Assad is merely slaughtering his own people. If he were to participate in the marketplace of ideas by advocating war on America or American interests, I would think a drone-to-the-dome would become a more likely option. That, and there's no oil there. That, and it is possible that such an assassination would upset our good friends the Iranians and the international oil markets might destabilize a bit more. Maybe Exxon will assassinate him?

Posted by Rights-Smights on March 14, 2012 at 10:27 PM

Well I'm sold. Let's bomb 'em, then Iran, then Uganda, bomb 'em all!!! It's trendy to want to kill, kill, killl!

Posted by Spindles on March 15, 2012 at 12:03 PM