On Ammar Abdulhamid
By David Schenker
Andrew makes some good points in his blog. I know both Farid Ghadry and Ammar Abdulhamid. I think both of them are courageous individuals, who at great personal risk have committed themselves to changing the nature of the dictatorial Ba’athist regime in Syria (if not changing the regime itself).
Recently, Ammar joined the National Salvation Front (NSF), a Syrian opposition group headed by former Ba’athist leader Abdel Halim Khaddam and Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leader (living in exile in Europe) Sadreddin Bayanouni. Ammar is under no illusions about the nature of the organization, but it is my sense that he joined the group because he viewed it as the most credible group on the ground in Syria. The wisdom of Ammar’s choice can be debated. That said, Ammar does not strike me in the least as a person who is sympathetic to a Ba’athist-Islamist government replacing the current Ba’athist Syrian regime. In fact, I believe him to be a committed secularlist and pro-democracy advocate.
Personally, I can’t imagine that the NSF is the type of opposition group that Washington would want to see replace the Asad regime. It seems likely that the NSF is looking for some contact with Washington. This would only be natural. Whether the Administration would see engagement with the NSF as being in US interests, remains to be seen.
What clearly is in US interests, however, is increased pressure on the Asad regime. Sadly, the internecine fighting among the Syrian opposition—somewhat reminiscent of what happened with the Iraqi opposition prior to the 2003 invasion—will likely only alleviate pressure on the regime.
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By David Schenker
Andrew makes some good points in his blog. I know both Farid Ghadry and Ammar Abdulhamid. I think both of them are courageous individuals, who at great personal risk have committed themselves ... [Read More]
