Between IT and the Baath

Syria will today be ending its 10th Baath Party congress. Ignore the naysayers; I can confirm the country is on a rapid track to progress: Indeed, the gathering has hurled Syria at least 10 years ahead, from the 1960s, when the Baath took power, to the 1970s.

And if you don't believe me, read the opening speech by Bashar Assad. I highlight one particular passage, reminding one and all that Syria's maximum leader was once the president of the Syrian Computer Society, a fact that previously had Western optimists on Syria salivating.

This comes amidst a huge influx of information and ideas made possible by the communications and IT revolution which has made room for theories and projects, as well as lifestyles which have overwhelmed Arabs and threatened their existence and cultural identity, and has increased the doubts and skepticism in the mind of young Arabs. The forces behind these events have created an illusory virtual reality that inspires our feelings in a way which drives us in a direction identified by others, without us being aware of the reality of what is actually happening, and through our gradual detachment from the reality in which we live, and because of our inability to discern the implications correctly. This leads in the end to the cultural, political and moral collapse of the Arab individual and his ultimate defeat even without a fight. The ultimate objective of all this is the destruction of Arab identity; for the enemies of the Arab nation are opposed to our possessing any identity or upholding any creed that could protect our existence and cohesion, guide our vision and direction, or on which we can rely in our steadfastness.

Ah, can you smell the mildew? (Thanks to Gordon Robison for pointing the passage out.)