Cindy Sheehan's Syrian Fans

In yet another case of strange (or not-so-strange) bedfellows, it seems former anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan has her fair share of fans among the Syrian government and its lackey government media. Her decision to "step down" as the figurehead of the anti-war movement because of her disappointment with the Democrat Party, has led to a flurry of commentary in Syria.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri.org)'s latest report quotes an op-ed from Dr. Buthayna Sha'ban, Syria's Minister of Expatriate Affairs, on the subject:

Cindy Sheehan's letter makes it clear that she received all the backup and support [she needed] when she was regarded as a Democrat fighting against the
Republican Party's outlook on the war. But when she left the Democratic Party, and defined the war in Iraq not as a matter of the political left vs. the political right, but as a matter of right vs. wrong – then her real problems began, for in a democratic regime, you are permitted to voice opposition [to the regime], but you are not allowed to expose the true nature of the regime and what it really stands for.

That's rich, coming from a member of a truly totalitarian regime. In Syria, such activism would land one in prison, not self-induced retirement. Come to think of it, same with Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Charles Kamilah, columnist for the Syrian government daily Teshreen, chimes in:

What made the famous American citizen Cindy Sheehan, head of the [American] anti-war movement, say 'goodbye America... you are not the country that I love?'... Her main reason [for this move] at this time was probably not Bush's[insistence on] pursuing his erroneous path – which is [merely] the persistence of [his] known stupidity. Rather, it is the Democratic Party's betrayal of its voters, who gave it a majority in Congress after it promised an immediate withdrawal from Iraq in its elections campaign.

Actually, the Democrat win in 2006 was not based on a promise of immediate withdrawal from Iraq (Mark Foley, anyone?). That's just the spin that's been added by the Democrats and the mainstream media after the fact. Interesting how they sound indistinguishable from the Syrian government media on this subject.

Similarly, should Cindy Sheehan be seeking a new home more appropriate to her political proclivities, something tells me she'd be a real hit in Syria. It would be a fitting end to an ignominious career of using her son Casey's death for political notoriety, not to mention pushing a radical anti-American and anti-Israel agenda under the guise of pacifism.

Bon voyage, Cindy.