EDMOND — In recent days, there has been discussion of the possibility of an American overture toward Syria as a way of bringing some form of stability to Iraq and the Middle East. A panel led by former Secretary of State and Bush family friend James Baker has been studying Iraq, and it is widely believed a report will be issued soon that will recommend the White House consider that option.
A recent article in the influential Council of Foreign Affairs publication by Richard Haass suggested the United States reach out to Syria as a way to lessen the influence of Iran in the region. While Syria currently has a close relation with Iran, Haass, who serves as president of the council, argues the United States could make Syria an ally of the West if it made a serious effort to do so. Sen. Hillary Clinton also has proposed such talks as a way to begin a comprehensive peace plan for the Middle East, and it has been reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair has sent a high-level emissary to the Syrian capital of Damascus recently.
One of the most knowledgeable people regarding Syria is Professor Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma, who serves as co-director of the Center For Peace Studies at that university.
Landis explains he developed his fluency in the difficult language of Arabic at an early age since his father, who was a banker, took his family to Beirut, Lebanon, and later Saudi Arabia. He also speaks French and Turkish. He received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, his master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from Princeton University in Middle Eastern studies.
Prior to beginning his advanced academic work, Landis taught in Beirut and also studied at the University of Damascus in Syria as a Fulbright Scholar, the American University in Cairo and at Bosporus University in Istanbul. Earlier this year, Landis reports he returned to the Norman campus after spending two semesters in Damascus as a Fulbright Senior Research Fellow.
Landis maintains a Web site, Syria Comment, that serves as an influential source of information on the Middle East and Syria where he posts articles from a wide variety of sources and comments on regional politics.
It seems every time there is a discussion in the media regarding Syria and the United States, Landis is either quoted or interviewed, and in recent weeks he has been a guest on a variety of news shows including the BBC’s International Service and has been quoted in the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Landis points out that 15 years ago this month, the United States under the first President Bush sponsored a meeting between Syria and Israel that included the discussion of the possibility of Israel returning to Syria the Golan Heights, which it captured in the 1967 war, in exchange for Syrian recognition of Israel as a fellow Middle Eastern state.
He also reminds us that in a United States brokered deal Egypt made peace with Israel after the Jewish State returned the Sinai Peninsula, which it had captured during the 1967 war.
Landis, who is familiar with the thinking of many influential Syrians, believes Syria may be willing to jettison its alliance with Iran if the government of Bashar Assad concludes that America is prepared to pursue a comprehensive Middle East peace plan that would include the return of the Golan Heights.
The Lebanese Shiite organization Hezbollah, which fought with Israel earlier this year, is currently having its weaponry replenished by arms from Iran that make their way through Syria.
Landis believes those supply routes could become difficult to maintain if the Syrian government were to conclude the United States was prepared to work with it.
Opinion
Will Syria change its tune?
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