Assurances From Dictators

Well, I certainly feel reassured. Kofi Annan has held a press conference to tell the world that Bashar Assad has agreed to enforce a weapons embargo on Hezbollah. And they are even offering to conduct joint patrols with the Lebanese army to do it. Why, it's exactly like putting the fox in charge of guarding the hen house!

DAMASCUS, Syria - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that Syria has pledged to step up border patrols and work with the Lebanese army to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah.

Annan also said that he had asked Syrian President Bashar Assad to use his nation's influence to help win the release of three Israeli soldiers held by Lebanese and Palestinian militants allied with Damascus.

According to Annan, Assad said at a meeting in Damascus that Syria will boost the number of its guards along the Lebanon-Syria border and establish joint patrols with the Lebanese army "where possible."

Israel has insisted that the international force be stationed along the Syrian frontier, although Assad has warned that such a presence would be considered "hostile."

Annan said Assad restated "Syria's objection to the presence of foreign forces along the Lebanese-Syrian borders."

The U.N. chief spoke with reporters at the Damascus airport before departing for Qatar. Assad made no public comments after the meeting.

Yeah, assurances from dictators are just so trustworthy. Especially when they object to the one thing that could provide verification of the trustworthiness of the assurances.