Will Syria’s Leadership Curb Mideast Violence?

Re “Blair, Syrian President Disagree,” Nov. 1: According to Syrian President Bashar Assad, “An act of resistance is different from an act of terrorism.” And with that statement, he condones the actions of terrorist groups operating out of his country.

But an act of resistance involves an act within a conquered country directed against a government organization or facility. It becomes an act of terrorism when the act is intended to result in death or injury to innocent human beings--regardless of ethnic origin, race or religious belief. More important, condoning acts with the intent to murder innocent people has to be evil no matter where it occurs.

Assad’s statement makes one wonder how well-educated the Syrian president is, even considering the fact that he attended college in London. It also makes me ask: Does he truly want peace in the Middle East?

George Epstein

Los Angeles

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It is not very surprising that British Prime Minister Tony Blair was not successful in receiving a promise from Assad to restrain terrorist attacks against Israel in order to restart the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Syria is currently being wooed to join the anti-terrorist coalition. Syria is a country that has for years been on the list of states that are aiding and harboring terrorist groups.

Assad’s defense minister just recently claimed that the Sept. 11 terrorist attack was perpetrated by the Israelis to turn the world against the Arabs. It is hard to believe that this kind of leadership will help to curb violence and terror in the Middle East or, for that matter, anywhere else in the world.

David Shichor

Fullerton