The Elasticity of the Syrian Opposition

Washington DC, October 20, 2006/RPS - Farid Ghadry/ --



There is no doubt that since the Iraq War the Syrian opposition has flourished and strengthened. In addition to the Reform Party of Syria and the coalition we formed under the name of the Syrian Democratic Coalition, other strong groups appeared on the map such as the Damascus Declaration, which united most of the Syrian dissidents inside the country and less than a year ago we saw the National Salvation Front make an appearance that included ex-vice president Khaddam and the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood (SMB).

The dynamics of the opposition in dealing with each other has brought forth interesting political positions on issues that otherwise would not have surfaced. The two most important being: 1) Openness to the west and Israel, and 2) Courting Islam.

In the first instance, RPS position vis-ŕ-vis the west and Israel have been clear from the beginning. We believe that we need the west to free ourselves from the horrific ills of socialism and a state-run economy that, coupled with ubiquitous corruption, brought poverty and despair to millions of Syrians. The west, with its democratic experience, offers Syria pragmatic solutions to problems it experienced at one point in its history and that explains our trust in a western-style economy that protects and respects our Syrian heritage and history. 

In regard to Israel, RPS extended hand of friendship has helped break a wall of fear that still to this day exists in the circles of the Syrian opposition.

What RPS did not do, and to this day remains skeptical of doing, is embrace Islamist organizations that are motivated to merge religion with politics. However, in the last few months, RPS has extended its hand to moderate Muslim organizations to widen its popularity and to undercut extremism in Islam. As a result, new alliances have formed that will be announced soon that will change the landscape of the Syrian opposition.

Likewise, on the other side of the spectrum, we have seen organizations like the National Salvation Front break its own wall of fear and extend a hand to Israel and the United States. Most recently was an announcement by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood to accept the concept of negotiating with Israel in return for the Golan Heights and its readiness to open a dialogue with the United States.

This elasticity spells trouble for Baschar al-Assad of Syria who historically controlled both aspects of these issues by projecting himself as a Muslim leader the way Saddam Hussein did in 1991 when he changed the Iraqi flag to include the words Allah was Akbar (God is Great). Also,  Assad, whose direct relations with the CIA, has also given him access to the United States and indirectly Israel. Now, both of those spaces are being rapidly occupied by a more potent and more lethal Syrian opposition mature enough in its vision to take over the country should the regime fall in Syria.

What the Syrian opposition needs now is to put its differences aside and to consolidate its vision. The danger that Assad may survive this episode of isolation should be reason enough for all of us to unite under the umbrella of a pluralistic society governed by all Syrians.