Syrian President Bashar Assad opened talks with Iranian officials Wednesday in a visit expected to include an appeal to free a French academic accused of plotting to overthrow the Islamic regime.
Assad is a close Iranian ally and also is using the trip to personally congratulate Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on his re-election, which touched off massive unrest after opponents claimed the results were rigged.
You have to hand it to Ahmadinejad's loyal boy toy. Assad actually expects to get in on the benefits of hostage taking without actually taking his own hostage!
The Iranians should be insulted by this freeloader trying to act all open handy without doing the heavy lifting.
Still, I'm sure our State Department will have suitable rewards for Assad ready--anything to keep former President Bill Clinton from getting any more credit and attention for hostage releasing.
