Jumblat Gives The Syrian President A Free Pass

Many who read M.P Walid Jumblat’s latest ‘advice’ to President Assad have naively interpreted this as a sign that the Chouf leader is planning an new U-turn towards the Lebanese anti-Syrian camp.

Far from it, Mr. Jumblat’s subtext in fact promotes the narrative of the Syrian regime: That President Assad is a reformer who is surrounded by corrupt and powerful officials who are to blame for what is happening in Syria. By disguising his position as an advice, Mr. Jumblat is in fact doing the regime a propaganda service.

As I’ve said before, this narrative gives the regime a free pass and allows it to do whatever it pleases with its people. Meanwhile, the gullible west turns a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening because they still believe in the tooth fairy that President Assad is a reformer.