Obama & Assad: last of the big spenders?

I just saw a video interview between a senior American anchor woman, Barbara Waters, and President Bashar al-Assad. Barbara asked hardball questions and Assad gave convincing answers.

Asked upon her return home how she accounted for Assad's aggressive treatment of Syrian protesters, she replied that he was in a state of disconnect. He failed to realize what he could do to ameliorate the situation and to empathize with the plight of the protesters. Assad further noted that the situation is Syria is complex. With that understatement he stated flatly that his government has no policy of murder and torture against Syrian people. His explanation for these practices was to blame individual acts on the part of other citizens and the police.

I am not very sympathetic with the disconnect theory of Assad's actions. Yet, I stand willing to support some stronger form of action to mitigate relations between him and his detractors. It is time we consider the numbers of killed and wounded should the free world decide to intervene and after doing so, give Assad time to sort out the problem.

His English was a pleasure to hear, but I guess that is understandable after his having studied in the UK and being married to a woman who was born there. And what a looker she is. Asma al-Assad is a headstrong woman who recently claimed the title of the real Dictator of Syria. She also has expensive shopping habits with a particular taste to make purchases on-line. Smart girl.

Less smart are the Obamas who hold expensive dinner parties, shop in person and take holidays to dangerous places. To wit, one of the O girls is spending her school spring break holiday in Mexico under the protection of a score of Secret Service minders. It is unwise and arrogant of O to agree to his daughter's yen for partying in Mexico after his very own State Department issued travel advisories that Americans should not holiday there.

The family's many extravagancies lend strong credence to the proposition that O is thumbing his nose at those Americans who are unemployed or cannot otherwise afford a holiday or a dinner party or an evening at the theatre in New York. A bit of temperance would go a long way in warming Barack and family to disenchanted followers.

The nouveau riche and  bourgeois aspect of his behavior in the White House smacks of new money and no class. He needs some credible advisors whose opinions he respects and is prepared to follow.