Said Abu Ghannam of the Syrian Opposition Slams Ba'thist Ahmad Al-Hajj Ali over Assad Rule

The following are excerpts from a discussion about the Assad regime between Said Abu Ghannam from the Syrian opposition and Ba'th party leader Ahmad Al-Hajj Ali, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on May 24, 2005.

Abu Ghannam: You belong to a bygone era. There are no people like you left in the world. You are not legitimate, you are terrorists. We consider you to be terrorists against us, against our people. Nothing is left to chance in Assad's Syria - everything is planned in advance by the security apparatuses. The 1,200 or 1,250 Ba'thists who will convene are required to serve as a "rubber stamp" on the plans made by the security apparatuses. Then they have to chant "Long live the leader, Bashar Assad," and declare their allegiance to him for all eternity, just as they chanted "with soul and in blood" for his father before him. This is what will happen in the (Ba'th party) convention. Can we expect anything from you? No. We are not deluded.

We all know Hafez Assad was no more that a bloodthirsty dictator, who ruled by steel and fire, and you called him "the leading father" or "our eternal leader." I blame you. You are responsible for what will happen to Syria. You are leading Syria to the same fate that has befallen Iraq.

Al-Hajj Ali: Hafez Assad was shocked by the defeat of June 1967, and three years later, he led the "Reform Movement" (i.e. coup) and restored balance to the country. Three years later, he led the greatest Arab war in the modern age – the October 1973 war, with all its significance. This war saw the largest tank battle in history! What are you laughing at?! Thousands of martyrs! Where are your martyrs?

Abu Ghannam: How much longer will we be controlled by the secret police? What kind of country is this, where you need a security permit to open up a hair salon or a falafel stand? I don't know. I don't know what this is. This has become a country in which Bashar Assad can give parts of it to his uncle and cousin…

Al-Hajj Ali: What you're saying is disgraceful and shamful!

Abu Ghannam: Excuse me…

Al-Hajj Ali: Don't cross the line into forbidden territory! Bashar Al-Asad is above accusations!

Abu Ghannam: As far as you're concerned.

Al-Hajj Ali: As far as I and the whole world are concerned. The first to refrain from accusing him is America!