Syria's Assad Gloats after Shooting Self in Foot

Bashar al-Assad, hereditary ruler of Syria, demonstrated what a rookie he is to Middle East politics. This is the problem with hereditary rule like Assad's. The next generation is never as smart or able as the preceding one. In a speech yesterday, he acted as though the latest conflict was an unconditional win for Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria.

Let's take inventory of Syria's gains. Syria, like Iraq under Hussein, is a secular country, strictly committed to keeping religious influence out of politics. It has now aligned itself with two radical Shia groups who probably view Assad as an infidel.

Syria had no skin in the game, since it didn't dare put a plane in the air or a soldier on the ground in Lebanon, so it gained nothing but closer ties with its two new "friends."

Assad's home was buzzed by Israeli jets even before the conflict began without any challenge from his air force. The Syrian air force may not even have known Israel was in its airspace.

Thanks to his covert backing of Hezbollah, Assad has also again managed to lose the return of the Golan Heights to Syria for another generation. Celebration of any Middle East "victory" is always short-lived. Ask the Israelis.

He has also managed to further antagonize the United States. The one thing the three stooges just won't seem to admit is that, whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge, bottom line, the United States will never let Israel be destroyed.

Until they accept that premise, it is only a matter of time before their cities are turned to rubble again.