Bashar Assad: Poker player?

[Robb]

I'm not sure if this might belong in I/P, but here it is anyhow.

So I'm reading this Straits Times piece on Israel going on high alert, and I'm reading Assad's response to the Sunday air strikes. I'm thinking, this guy just had his borders ignored, bombs dropped in his country. Should be ticked off and screaming.

Here's his quote:

"There is no doubt that the role Syria plays in the various issues in our region is painful to this Israeli government. What happened on Sunday was a failed Israeli attempt to undercut this role.

"We can, with full confidence, say that what happened will only make Syria's role more effective and influential in events in the region - contrary to what this Israeli government wants."

He goes on to make some thinly veiled threats, but I'd like to know what DUers think of this guy. I'm pretty new to learning about Syria on balance.

[Classical_Liberal]

1. Most people think these assaults will end when they find

the leaker in the whitehouse. They think the identity of the Leaker will discredit the neocons and the Likudniks, and Bush will get different advisors.

[La_Serpiente]

2. Well..he's a pretty interesting fella

He's actually a computer whiz who was educated in England I belive.

His wife is like the number three female feminist in the Muslim world.

He's hardly the fundamentalist type.

It's the Baathist military (Yes, there are Baathist there) that really pull the string there and create a panacea for the terrorist groups.

[_Jumper_]

4. Is Syria officially secular?

?

[Maple]

3. He is an

Opthamologist and his wife is a financial analyst.

Both British educated.