Editorial

Sami Moubayed

The Washington Post asked panelists around the world how they think history will label Tony Blair, who leaves ofice this month in June 2007, 25 years from now. Writing from Damascus, I spoke about how the Syrians will remember him. The world remembers the Blair-Assad Summit in London. I would rather recall the Blair-Assad Summit in Da-mascus in 2001. I happened to be in London when Tony Blair was in Syria and can still remember reading “Syria Scorns Blair” at newsstands scattered all over Oxford Street. Blair’s clash with Assad reminded me of a similar incident that took place 62 years ago. Upon his return from Yalta, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a stop in Egypt to meet with Arab leaders and rally their support “against a war of terror,” launched, however, not by Osama bin Laden but by Adolph Hitler. Coming at the height of Churchill’s glory and as the war in Europe was turning in favor of the Allies, Churchill met with Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli. London demanded that Syria sign a political and economic friendship treaty with Paris, and grant her concessions and privileges on Syrian soil. Churchill’s words ran as follows: “I am warning Syria speciically that her negative and radical policies during these dificult times will not be tolerated.” That is why we will not have mercy on any person or group, whomever they may be, who will not side with us.” Quwatli responded: “Mr. Churchill, what does France want from us? Why doesn’t she turn her attention to liber-ating her own lands before she occupies a freedom seeking country? Hasn’t she expe-rienced the humiliation of occupation and defeat?” Quwatli added in a raised voice that Syria’s principles were clear - and he would not change them “even if the waters of the ocean turn red.” Churchill snapped back: “Are you challenging me? Don’t you challenge me! Do you know who I am? I am Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces. I will not let anyone in this world, threaten or challenge me.”