Bashar Assad's Syrian Regime in Trouble

Former Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam has been making quite provocative statements about President Bashar al-Assad.

"Ask yourselves, my brothers, after six years of his taking over the administration of the country, what has Bashar Assad done except spread corruption, increase suffering and (take) wrong decisions that have led to weakening national unity and subjecting Syria to Arab and international isolation," Khaddam said.

"I assure you that the corrupt and tyrannical regime is on the brink of collapse and in the near future, the ruler will see the opportunists and hypocrites that rallied around him fleeing. He and his corrupt family and entourage will find themselves in the hands of justice," he added.

Khaddam's statements followed his reported meeting last week in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan. The discussions in the meeting were not disclosed but the Saudis have expressed Arab displeasure with President Assad's closeness with Iran. It didn't help that Assad said the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan were "half men" because they didn't support Lebanon during the Israeli-Hezbollah war.

Khaddam, who is wanted for treason in Syria, linked the assassination of Lebanese ex-Premier Rafik Hariri to a threat made by Assad. Now Khaddam is at the forefront of the effort to see Assad overthrown. He's working all political angles, capitalizing on a general undercurrent of Arab distrust of the Iranians and Assad's coziness with Ahmadinejad. Khaddam heads the newly-formed National Salvation Front and plans on opening an office in Washington.

Viewing the situation from a distance, I suspect that the media may be exaggerating the importance of Khaddam's one meeting with with the Saudis. Assad is propped up by the entire Baathist party and any regime change will not be easy. However, if other Arab leaders jump on the bash Bashar bandwagon, maybe something will happen.

Let's hope so.