Video: Assad tells Sawyer ix-nay on the emocracy-day

posted at 1:40 pm on February 6, 2007 by Allahpundit

Part two aired this morning. Here’s the transcript, which begins with him blaming the world for forcing him to seek the shelter of Iran’s tender embrace. To Sawyer’s credit she did ask tougher questions in this segment, including a few about the Hariri tribunal in Lebanon that’s got Damascus so nervous. Assad handled them easily, of course. By now, he doesn’t even flinch when he says “we don’t believe in violence” in the course of explaning his support for Hamas.

It’s always tough to pick one magic moment for clipping but today’s blue ribbon goes to his disquisition on democracy. He worked hard for it, having funnelled suicide bombers into Iraq for years now precisely so that he could claim the rubble as evidence of what happens when Arabs try to govern themselves. Fifty years from now, some reporter will be asking his grandson the same question and will be getting the same answer, practically verbatim, in reply.

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Is there a part three of this interview, where they finally utter the word Hizbullah, or is that verbotten in these interviews and this is the best that Sawyer could manage?

lawhawk on February 6, 2007 at 2:04 PM

Was Rick Warren on hand to praise the “moderate” Assad again?

RightWinged on February 6, 2007 at 2:31 PM

Democracy? Not so much.

Alden Pyle on February 6, 2007 at 2:32 PM

Sawyer: And chance Hamas will volunteer recognition of Israel’s right to exist?

Assad: It’s a matter of dialogue. If you want them to do so, to be involved in peace, you better talk to them. Convince them.

Assad translated:”Jeebus woman, are you that stupid? What part of “Death to Israel” is so hard for you to understand? We put morons like you in deep basements for asking such stupid questions. The lucky ones end up blowing to bits in their cars.”

No free pass for Sawyer, she let him skate on the political prisoners question. I am impressed she asked it, but “breaking the law of Syria” cretainly deserved a follow up. Not like I’m disappointed though.

Tman on February 6, 2007 at 2:58 PM

I actually found Sawyer’s report rather interesting, because it showed a country with a relatively advanced society (for that part of the world) and people with something to lose. The impression I had of Syria to this point was kind of a barbaric mixture of Yemen and the Sudan. Syria may not be perfect, but I really hope that Bush doesn’t want to go and start another war over there. They seem to be getting along just fine without the kind of “democracy” that is now so rampant in Iraq. With the Arabs, you’ve got to take what you can get. If they’re not all slaughtering each other in the street, that’s probably the best you’re going to do. Why rock the boat?

John on February 6, 2007 at 3:23 PM

Fifty years from now, some reporter will be asking his grandson the same question and will be getting the same answer, practically verbatim, in reply.

Not sure I see the middle east being status quo fifty years from now. For good or for bad, change is going to happen soon. Just an opinion.

trader67 on February 6, 2007 at 3:29 PM

I hope she slipped a homing beacon into his pocket before she left.

Tony737 on February 6, 2007 at 3:37 PM