Middle East Focus: Assad Pinup Photos Shock King Abdullah, Financing Democracy Abroad, Fighting Democracy at Home…….

Arabia Deserta

Assad Pinup Photos Shock King Abdullah, Financing Democracy Abroad, Fighting Democracy at Home…….

"Assad desk photos 'shock' King Abdullah . Photos of Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the desk of the Syrian president have shocked the visiting Saudi king, a report says. Citing Syrian sources, Rajanews website reported that King Abdullah, in his recent visit to Damascus, was astonished to find photos of Nasrallah and Ahmadinejad on President Bashar al-Assad's desk. The report added that King Abdullah's talks with Assad included discussions on Iran's regional policies, Middle East security and the Muslim world. According to the report, Assad rejected Saudi 'preconceptions' about Tehran and said Iran is the only country that “sincerely” supports the Arab and Muslim countries. The Syrian president then detailed Iran's efforts to find and resolve issues that can create discord among Muslims, the report added………….”

This item may be a bit of Iranian propaganda for both domestic and regional consumption. It sounds like abit of propaganda. It probably sends the Iranian message that Syria is still the same Syria as before the king’s visit. It most likely is the same Syria. But I can’t resist a comment.

Given the king’s age, he probably expected Assad to have pinups of Marilyn Monroe or even Betty Grable. He may have expected a mug shot of himself even somewhere in there. Still, a photo of Ahmadinejad on my desk every day all day? That would be too much even for an Ahmadinejadphile, if there is such a thing outside his family.

And the photo of Hezbullah’s Nasrallah? The same man the Saudi king spent many hundreds of millions of dollars, not necessarily hard-earned, against during the last Lebanese elections? (Saudi royals finance a lot of elections in Lebanon and a few other places, since they love election campaigns and don’t have any elections in their country).
Cheers
mhg
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