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Lies in Translation: Der Spiegel's Media Interview Attack on President Bashar al-Assad (Updated) Printer friendly page Print This
By Les Blough, Editor. Axis of Logic.
Axis of Logic
Wednesday, Oct 9, 2013

Der Spiegel's combative interview with President Bashar al-Assad has received significant worldwide media attention. We published the original text of the interview as translated into English by SANA, the Syrian Arab News Agency. Since then we have received Spiegel's English translation and found some gross differences between the texts. We have set them in two columns, matching question for question, answer for answer to make it easy for readers to conduct your own comparative analysis.

Der Spiegel's "interview" with President Bashar al-Assad : A Media War Attack (Updated With Photos)
- Der Spiegel interviews Bashar Al-Assad. SANA.
Of course two different translators will always convert text to another language in different ways, using differing idiomatic expressions and grammar. Those differences are not of any concern in the following document. Rather, the gross omissions, additions or changes in text is the primary subject of this investigation and the secondary inquiry is in the subtle use of words by the two parties. Clues to the veracity of each translation lie in the language attributed to each of the two parties. 

We encourage you the reader to form your impressions or arrive at your own conclusions about who manipulated the text of this important interview with President Assad. We have also color-coded the differences that appear to be significant for easy identification of those most telling parts of this interview that have been omitted, inserted or changed. The Der Spiegel translation appears in the left side with ommissions, additions and textual changes highligted in red. The SANA translation is in the right column with textual differences provided in blue. Images of President Assad used by Der Spiegel and our own analysis and discussion follow the two transcripts.

 Translation by Der Spiegel
 SPIEGEL: Mr. President, do you love your country? SPIEGEL: Mr. President, do you love your country?
 Assad: That is a simple, evident question. Of course. It's human to love where you come from. But it is not just a question of the emotional relationship. It is also about what you, as a person, can do for your home, especially when you are in a position of authority. That becomes especially clear in times of crisis. Right now, at a time when I have to protect my country, I am feeling just how much I love it.  President Assad: Of course, and in this I am no different from most people. This is not merely about emotions, but rather about what one can do for his country if he has the power and especially in times of crisis; and at this particular time, I realize more than ever how much I love my country and so I must protect it.
 SPIEGEL: If you were a true patriot, you would step down and pave the way for negotiations for an interim government or a cease-fire with the armed opposition.  SPIEGEL: Wouldn’t you be more patriotic if you stepped down and allowed for negotiations over an interim government or for a cease-fire with the armed opposition?
 Assad: The Syrian people will determine my fate. That is not a question any other party can decide. Who are these factions? Who do they represent? The Syrian people? At least part of the Syrian people? If they do, then let's go to the ballot box.  President Assad: The Syrian people determine my fate; no other party can determine this issue. As for the armed opposition or factions, who do they represent - the Syrian people? If so, this can be proven only through the ballot box.
SPIEGEL: Are you prepared to stand in an election?  SPIEGEL: Are you prepared to run in the next elections?
 Assad: My second term in office will end next August. Two months earlier we will hold a presidential election. I cannot decide now whether I am going to run. It's still early, because you have to probe the mood and will of the people. If I no longer know that I have the will of the people behind me, then I will not run.  President Assad: My term ends in August next year. The presidential elections should take place before that time. I cannot decide now whether I am going to run; this depends on what the Syrian people want. If people are not behind me, I won’t stand in the elections.
 SPIEGEL: So you're really considering giving up power?  SPIEGEL: Will you seriously consider giving up power?
 Assad: Whether I'm open-minded or not, this is about the decision of the people, because this is their country. It's not only my country.  President Assad: This is not about me or what I want. It’s about what people want. The country is not mine alone, it’s the country for all Syrians.
 SPIEGEL: But you are the reason for the rebellion. The people want to get rid of corruption and despotism. They are calling for a real democracy and the opposition believes this will only be possible if you step down.  SPIEGEL: But some people say that you are the cause of the rebellion, because people want to get rid of corruption and tyranny. They call for a true democracy; and according to the opposition, this is not possible with you in power.
 Assad: Again, when you talk about factions, whether they are opposition or supporters, you have to ask yourself the question: Whom do they represent? Themselves or the country that made them? Are they speaking for the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar? My answer here has to be frank and straight to the point. This conflict has been brought to our country from abroad. These people are located abroad, they live in five-star hotels and they say and do what those countries tell them to do. But they have no grassroots in Syria.  President Assad: Do these people speak for themselves, or do they speak on behalf of the Syrian people or on behalf of the countries that are backing them? Do they speak on behalf of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia or Qatar? Let me be clear about this: this conflict is being brought to our country from the outside world. These people live in five-star hotels, they are dictated to by their financial backers and have no grass roots in Syria.
 SPIEGEL: Do you dispute that there's a strong opposition against you in your country?  SPIEGEL: Do you deny that there is a strong opposition against you in your country?
 Assad: That's normal. If I don't have opposition, it means all the people support me, and that's impossible.  President Assad: There is certainly an opposition in our country. What country doesn’t have opposition? It’s impossible for all the Syrians to be on my side.
 SPIEGEL: But we aren't the only ones who are disputing your legitimacy. "A leader who slaughtered his citizens and gassed children to death cannot regain the legitimacy to lead a badly fractured country," US President Obama said at the United Nations General Assembly at the end of September. SPIEGEL: It’s not only us who deny the legitimacy of your presidency. U.S. President Barack Obama said at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York that a leader who kills his people and gases children to death has forfeited any right to rule his country.
 Assad: First of all, you're talking about the president of the United States, not the president of Syria --so he can only talk about his country. It is not legitimate for him to judge Syria. He doesn't have the right to tell the Syrian people who their president will be.

Second, what he says doesn't have anything to do with the reality. He's been talking about the same thing -- that the president has to quit -- for a year and a half now. Has anything happened? Nothing has happened.
 President Assad: First, he is the president of the United States and has no right to pass judgment on Syria.

Second, he has no right to tell the Syrian people whom to choose as their president.

Third, what he says in realty has no foundation whatsoever. He has been calling for me to step down for one and a half years. What next? Have his statements made any impact? None whatsoever.
 SPIEGEL: From our point of view, it looks more like you are the one who is ignoring reality. If you stepped own, you would spare your people a lot of suffering.
 SPIEGEL: For us, it seems that you are ignoring reality. By stepping down, you save the people a great deal of suffering.
 Assad: The whole problem wasn't about the president. What do killing innocents, explosions and the terrorism that al-Qaida is bringing to the country have to do with me being in office?  President Assad: This has nothing to do with me being president. Killing innocent people and terrorizing them by explosions and car bombs, brought to our country by al-Qaeda, is what causes pain to the Syrian people. What does that have to do with me being in office?
 SPIEGEL: It has to do with the president because your troops and intelligence services are responsible for a part of these horrors. That is your responsibility. SPIEGEL: It is relevant because your forces and security services have committed some of these atrocities and you are responsible for that.
 Assad: Our decision from the very beginning was to respond to the demands of the demonstrators, although they were not truly peaceful demonstrations from the start. We already lost soldiers and policemen during the first weeks. Nevertheless, a committee changed the constitution (to reflect the protesters' concerns), and later there was a referendum. But we also have to fight terrorism to defend our country. I admit that mistakes were made during the implementation of this decision.  President Assad: Despite the fact that the protests were not peaceful at all, it was our policy from the beginning to respond to the demands of the demonstrators. In the first weeks, we lost soldiers and policemen who were killed in those protests. Nevertheless, a specialized committee changed the constitution to meet protesters’ demands and a referendum was held. On the other hand, we also needed to confront terrorism; it’s the duty of the government to defend the country and take the relevant decisions to that effect. In the context of implementing these decisions, mistakes were made. We must acknowledge that.
 SPIEGEL: The victims in the first protests in Daraa, where the insurgency began, were largely protesters who were beaten and shot. This harshness was a mistake on the part of your regime.  SPIEGEL: The rebellion started with demonstrations in Dara’a and the victims were not only members of your security forces.The other side also suffered a great deal. The protesters were beaten and fired at. This harsh treatment was one of the regime's mistakes.
 Assad: In every implementation in the world, you have mistakes. You are human.  President Assad: When political measures are implemented – anywhere in the world - mistakes are made; we are only human.
 SPIEGEL: So you admit that the harshness against the protesters was a mistake?  SPIEGEL: So, you acknowledge that the harsh treatment meted out at the protesters was a mistake.
 Assad: There were personal mistakes made by individuals. We all make mistakes. Even a president makes mistakes. But even if there were mistakes in the implementation, our decisions were still fundamentally the right ones.  President Assad: There were individual errors. We all make mistakes. Even the president might make mistakes. Even if mistakes were made in on the ground, our principal decisions were the right ones.
 SPIEGEL: Was the massacre at Houla only the result of the failure of individuals?  SPIEGEL: Was the Houla massacre also the result of mere individual failure?
 Assad: It was the gangs and militants who attacked the village residents, never the government or its supporters. That's exactly what happened. And if you talk about proof, no one has proof against this. Actually, what happened was that our supporters are the ones who were killed, and we can give you the names of the victims' families because they supported our course against terror.  President Assad: Neither the government nor its supporters are to blame for that, because it was the armed gangs and the extremists who attacked the families who supported the government. This is exactly what happened. If you want to assert something to the contrary, you need to provide the evidence and this is what you cannot do. We, however, and contrary to your claims, can give you the names of the victims who were killed because they stood against terrorism.
 SPIEGEL: We have plenty of evidence. Our reporters were in Houla, where they conducted in-depth research and spoke to survivors and relatives of the victims. UN experts have also come to the conclusion that the 108 village residents who were killed, including 49 children and 34 women, were the victims of your regime. So how can you deny any responsibility and blame the so-called terrorists?  SPIEGEL: We have evidence. Our reporters were in Houla and talked to the victims and carried out thorough investigations. The U.N. experts reached a conclusion, after investigating the case, that 108 people in the village were killed, including 49 children and 34 women, victims of your regime. How can you deny responsibility and accuse the so-called terrorists.
 Assad: With all due respect to your reports, we are the Syrians. We live here and we know the reality better than your reporters. We know what is true and we can document it.  President Assad: With respect to your reporters, we Syrians, know our country better, know the truth better and can fully document that.
 SPIEGEL: The perpetrators are part of Shabiha, a militia that is close to your regime.  SPIEGEL: The culprits were ‘shabiha’, members of the militias with links to your regime.
 Assad's question is missing. President Assad: Do you have any evidence to prove that?
 SPIEGEL's answer is missing.  SPIEGEL: We heard this from people we consider credible.
 Assad: Let me be frank with you. Your question is full of misstatements. However you put it, in the end a lie is a lie. So, what you say is not correct.  President Assad: I’ll be candid and even blunt with you: your question is based on wrong information. What you are asserting has no ground in reality. A lie is a lie, no matter how you phrase it or present it.
 SPIEGEL: So you deny that the Shabiha militia was involved?  SPIEGEL: That’s right. So, you don’t acknowledge that your ‘shabiha’ took part in the massacre.
 Assad: What do you mean by "Shabiha?"  President Assad: What do you mean by ‘shabiha?’
 SPIEGEL: This militia, the "ghosts," who are close to your regime.  SPIEGEL: The militias close to your regime.
 Assad: This is a Turkish name. There is nothing called "Shabiha" in Syria. In many remote areas where there is no possibility for the army and police to go and rescue the people and defend them, people have bought arms and set up their own small forces to defend themselves against attacks by militants. Some of them have fought with the army, that's true. But they are not militias that have been created to support the president. At issue is their country, which they want to defend from al-Qaida. President Assad: This name is actually of Turkish origin, in Syria don’t know ‘shabiha.’ The reality is that, when armed groups attack remote areas, and the army and police cannot provide sufficient protection to citizens, villagers arm themselves and create patrols in self-defense. It’s true that some of those fought with our forces, but these are not militias formed to protect the president. What concerns these people is their country, which they are defending against al-Qaeda terrorists that have been attacking them for months.
 SPIEGEL: So massacres and terror are only perpetrated by the other side? Your militias, security forces and secret services have nothing to do with this?
SPIEGEL: So, it was only the other side who committed massacres and terrorism, and your soldiers, militias, security forces and intelligence services have nothing to do with that?
 Assad: You cannot go to the extreme and make things absolute -- they did everything and we did nothing, 100 percent and zero percent. Reality isn't black and white like this. It has shades of gray. So if you want to talk about our side, if you talk about the decisions, we are defending our country. The mistakes are individual, and, as president, I wouldn't discuss individual mistakes because there are 23 million Syrians. Every country has criminals who have to be fought. They can exist anywhere, including the government or the army -- or outside the government and army. This is normal, but we don't have sufficient information about this. You're asking me to generalize, but I cannot generalize.  President Assad: One cannot make such sweeping generalizations: “They are one hundred percent guilty, and we are zero percent.” The truth is not always black and white; in the middle there are shades of grey. But, in principle this is true. We are defending ourselves and not anything else. As to individual mistakes, I cannot, as president of all the Syrians, follow and check on each and every one of the 23 million Syrians.
 SPIEGEL's question which appears in SANA's transcript on the right has been deleted or is missing.  SPIEGEL: Wouldn’t it be possible that the crimes against the villagers were committed by parts of the Syrian Army outside your control?
 President Assad's answer which appears in SANA's transcript on the right has been deleted or is missing.  President Assad: There are criminals in every country, even in your country. Those can be everywhere. This is normal; but we don’t have sufficient information about this.
 SPIEGEL: A president's legitimacy is not a question of phrases and declarations. You are measured by your deeds. Through the deployment of chemical weapons against your own people, you have definitively lost the legitimacy to hold your office  SPIEGEL: The legitimacy of a president does not rest on slogans and promises, but on actions. As a result of the gas attack against your people, you forfeited every right to be in your position.
 Assad: We did not use chemical weapons. This is a misstatement. So is the picture you paint of me as a man who kills his own people. Who isn't against me? You've got the United States, the West, the richest countries in the Arab world and Turkey. All this and I am killing my people and they still support me! Am I a Superman? No. So how can I still stay in power after two and a half years? Because a big part of the Syrian people support me, the government and the state.

Whether that figure is greater or less than 50 percent? I am not saying that it is the bigger part of our population. But a big part means that you are legitimate. That is very simple. And where is another another lea who would be similarly legitimate?
President Assad: We did not use chemical weapons; this is not true. And the picture you are drawing of me is not true. The United States, the entire western world, the richest countries in the Arab world and neighbouring Turkey are against me, and terrorists are crossing the borders from Iraq. On top of all of this, I kill my people, who support me nevertheless! Am I superhuman? No.

So, why am I still in power two and half years on? The answer is simple: because a large segment of the Syrian people support me, they support the government and the state. Whether they constitute 50% or less, that is a different issue. But this large segment also means ‘legitimacy.’This is how things are in reality.
 SPIEGEL: President Obama said after the investigation into this crime by the United Nations that there was "no doubt" that your regime used chemical weapons on Aug. 21 in an attack that killed more than 1,000 people.  SPIEGEL: After the U.N. investigation of this crime, U.S. President Obama had no doubt that your regime used chemical weapons on August 21 in an attack that claimed the lives of over a thousand people, including hundreds of children.
 Assad: Once again, I dare Obama to give a single piece of evidence, a single shred. The only thing he has is lies.
 President Assad: Once again, Obama never provided one shred of evidence. The only things he provided were lies.
 SPIEGEL: But the conclusions of the UN inspectors …  SPIEGEL: But the conclusions reached by the U.N. investigators
 Assad: What conclusions? When the inspectors came to Syria, we asked them to continue the investigation. We are hoping for an explanation of who is responsible for this act.  President Assad: What conclusions? When the investigators came to Syria, we asked them to continue their work and we hope that they will provide an explanation of who is responsible for this act.
 SPIEGEL: Based on the trajectory of the rockets, it is possible to calculate where they were fired from -- namely the positions of your Fourth Division.  SPIEGEL: The trajectory of the gas shells could be traced back from their point of impact to their point of launching. And it shows that they were launched from 4th division installations.
 Assad: That doesn't prove anything, because the terrorists could be anywhere. You can find them in Damascus now. They could even launch a missile from near my house.  President Assad: This doesn’t prove anything. These terrorists can be anywhere; they are even in Damascus itself. They could fire a missile next to my home.
 SPIEGEL: But your opponents are not capable of firing weapons containing Sarin. That requires military equipment, training and precision.  SPIEGEL: But launching rockets containing Sarin gas cannot be done by your enemies. They don’t have the capabilities to do that because it requires military equipment, training and accuracy.
 Assad: Who said that they are not capable? In the 1990s, terrorists used Sarin gas in an attack in Tokyo. They call it "kitchen gas" because it can be made anywhere.  President Assad: Who says so? Terrorists used Sarin gas in a Tokyo attack in the 1990s. Sarin is called the “kitchen gas” because anyone can make it anywhere, in any room.
 SPIEGEL: But you really can't compare these two Sarin attacks -- they aren't comparable. This was a military action.  SPIEGEL: The two attacks cannot be linked or compared. This is about a military operation in Damascus.
Assad: No one can say with certainty that rockets were used -- we do not have any evidence. The only thing certain is that Sarin was released. Perhaps that happened when one of our rockets struck one of the terrorists' positions? Or perhaps they made an error while they were handling it and something happened. Because they have Sarin -- they used it earlier in Aleppo. President Assad: No one can say with any certainty that they used rockets. We have no evidence. But the certain thing is that Sarin was used. Is it not possible that one of our rockets hit a terrorist site containing Sarin? Or that they made a mistake while dealing with it? They are in possession of Sarin and they already used it in Aleppo.
SPIEGEL: In total, 14 instances in which chemical weapons were used have been detected, but never before were they used on the same massive scale as they were in August. Have you actually started your own investigation? SPIEGEL:13 cases were identified where Sarin was used, but in no case has it been used with such intensity as on August 21st. Have you conducted any investigations of your own?
Assad: Any investigation should begin with the identifying the number of the real victims. The militants said 350 victims, the US said 1,200 victims. There is something not true on the ground. There are also inconsistencies in the pictures. One of the dead children can be seen in two locations in two photos. What I want to say with this is that you have to verify this case very precisely, but no one has done that so far. We can't do that either because it is a terrorist area. President Assad: Every investigation should start with identifying the number of the real victims. The armed groups speak about 350. The United States speaks about 1,400. Médecins Sans Frontières mention about 280. This cannot be right. Even the photos taken of the victims contain discrepancies. For instance, a dead child appears in two different locations.
Spiegel's question is missing. SPIEGEL: You mean that the photos of the victims have been manipulated?
Assad's answer is missing. President Assad: I want to say this case should be verified thoroughly; and no one has done that so far. We cannot do it, because it is an area where terrorists operate.
SPIEGEL: So close to the capital city? SPIEGEL: This close to the city?
Assad: They are very close to Damascus and very close to our army barracks. They could kill our soldiers, and that cannot be allowed to happen.
President Assad: They are very close to Damascus, close to our military barracks; they could kill our soldiers.
SPIEGEL: Do you think you can recapture ground you have lost? SPIEGEL: Do you think you can regain control of the areas you lost?
Assad: Our fight is not about winning or losing ground. We're not two countries in which one has occupied a part of the other, like Israel has done with our Golan Heights. It's about getting rid of the terrorists. If we liberate a piece of this ground -- and that is what is happening in many areas in Syria -- this doesn't mean that you're winning, because the terrorists will go to another area and destroy it. If the people support us, then we are gaining. President Assad: It is not about winning or losing in territorial terms. We are not two states, one controlling an area belonging to the other, as in the case with Israel, which occupies our Golan Heights. This is about terrorism, which should be eliminated. When we liberate a certain area, as we have done in many areas of Syria, it doesn’t mean that we are winning, because the terrorists withdraw to another area and destroy it. That’s why we are also concerned about our citizens’ security. It is also important for us to win the support of our population: we win with their support and vice versa.
SPIEGEL's question is missing. SPIEGEL: Do you still control the chemical weapons stockpiles?
President Assad's answer is missing
President Assad: Yes, certainly. Furthermore, to assure you, I would like to add that the stored materials haven’t been activated; and no one can use them before they are prepared for that purpose.
SPIEGEL: Western intelligence agencies have tapped phone calls from your officers in which they urge the leadership to use chemical weapons. SPIEGEL: This doesn’t rule out that the army was responsible for the attack. Western intelligence services intercepted phone calls in which your commanders urge the general command to use poisonous gas.
Assad: That's completely fake. I don't want to base our conversation just on such allegations. President Assad: This is complete fabrication and forgery and I will not waste my time with such allegations.
SPIEGEL:Is it irritating for you that we in the West perceive the situation so differently? SPIEGEL: Isn’t it puzzling that we, in the West, have a completely different assessment of the situation?
Assad: Your region always arrives late when it comes to understanding the actual situation. When we were speaking about violent protests, you were still talking about "peaceful demonstrations." And when we started talking about extremists, you started talking about "some" militants. When you spoke of extremists, we were already talking about al-Qaida. Then they started talking about a "few" terrorists at a time when we were already talking about a majority. Now they have started talking about it being 50-50. Of course, John Kerry is still in the past -- he's talking about 20 percent. President Assad: In fact, your region is always late in recognizing reality and is extremely slow in understanding this reality. In the beginning, we talked about violent protests, while you talked about peaceful demonstrations. When we started talking about extremists, you were still talking about “some militants.” When we talked about al-Qaeda, you were still talking about a few terrorists, although they are actually the majority. Now you realize that it is about 50/50. Take for instance, Secretary of State Kerry who still sticks to the past and talks about 20%. This is exactly what I meant with the reality deficit you have.
SPIEGEL: Could it be that we hesitate in following your assessments of the situation because we lack confidence in you? And how would you explain this lack of confidence?
President Assad: I think the West prefers to trust al-Qaeda rather than to trust me.

SPIEGEL: That's absurd. SPIEGEL: This is absurd!!
Assad: No, this is freedom of expression, please. That's my opinion, I'm telling you frankly. Everything that the West has been doing for the past 10 years has supported al-Qaida. Maybe they don't have this intention, but in reality it is what happened. Because of this, we now have al-Qaida here, with fighters from 80 countries. We have to deal with tens of thousands of fighters. And with that, I am just talking about the foreigners. President Assad: I mean it. Maybe you didn’t mean it, but it looks like it: all the decisions you have taken in the West for the past ten years have been in support of al-Qaeda. Some might have done that intentionally and some inadvertently. In any case, and through Western support, now we have thousands of al-Qaeda fighters from 80 countries. We have to deal with them. I am referring to those who have come from outside Syria.
SPIEGEL: You have lost many soldiers who are defecting to the opposition. Are you trying to tell us that they are becoming al-Qaida supporters overnight? SPIEGEL: You are losing many soldiers, those who defect to the opposition. Are you telling us that they became al-Qaeda affiliates overnight?
Assad: No. I didn't say everybody is now al-Qaida. I said the majority. The minority is comprised of deserters or outlaws. At the beginning of the crisis, 60,000 Syrian outlaws were walking around freely outside of prison. They alone would be enough to create an army. I can't tell you the number of people fighting against us because most of them come in illegally through the borders. They come to go to paradise in their jihad against atheists or non-Muslims. Even if you get rid of thousands of them, they will still have a constant supply coming from outside. President Assad: No, I am not saying that they are all al-Qaeda, but most of them are. The minority are defectors or criminals. At the beginning of the crisis, we had over 60,000 outlaws at large. Those alone could form a whole army. How many are fighting us? I cannot give a specific figure. Most of them cross the borders illegally for jihad. They come to Syria in the belief that they will go to heaven by waging war on atheists and non-Muslims. Even when we get rid of thousands of them, their ranks are replenished by other jihadists.
SPIEGEL: And you still think you have a chance of winning this war? SPIEGEL: Yet, you believe you will win in this conflict?
Assad: Even if we don't have the chance, we don't have any other choice but to fight and to defend our country.
President Assad: Even if there was no chance of winning the fight, we have no other choice but to defend our country.
SPIEGEL: Let's go back to the issue of chemical weapons. We would like to remind you that you have always denied possessing chemical weapons. But now, after the crimes against humanity on Aug. 21 and the threat of a military strike by the US, you have admitted possessing them. SPIEGEL: On the subject of trust, we want to remind you that you have always denied that you possessed chemical weapons, while now you acknowledge that you have them.
Assad: We never said we didn't have chemical weapons. We always say "if we had, then" President Assad: We never stated that we had no chemical weapons. We always phrased our statements “if we had …, then …” But we never lied.
SPIEGEL: Chemical weapons are no reason to laugh, but there is nothing else we can do. (doesn't appear in SANA translation)
SPIEGEL's Question is missing
Assad: In any case, we never lied. (doesn't appear in SANA)
Assad's answer is missing
SPIEGEL: There is evidence that German firms delivered chemicals to Syria that can also be used in the making of chemical weapons. Do you have more details about that? SPIEGEL: It is reported that German companies supplied you with chemical materials, which you used to make chemical weapons. Do you have more specific information about this?
Assad: No, I don't know. It is not my business. But in principle we do not get any help from abroad when it comes to building the weapons. We don't need it. We are experts in this area ourselves. President Assad: No, because these are technical issues. But, in principle, we didn’t receive outside help to make these weapons, because we didn’t need assistance. We are experts in the field.
SPIEGEL: How many tons of Sarin or other chemical weapons do you currently have at your disposal? SPIEGEL: Then, how many tons of Sarin gas or other agents do you have?
Assad: That's classified information until we give it to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapns (OPCW). President Assad: This remains classified information until it is provided to OPCW.
SPIEGEL: We know that Western secret services suspect a thousand tons. SPIEGEL: According to intelligence agencies, you have a thousand tons in your stockpile.
Assad: In the end, it's about the concept, not the tons. We have the principle that we have chemical weapons, but we think the Middle East should be a weapons of mass destruction-free zone. President Assad: What’s important is the principle not the figure. We have these weapons – yes, but we are committed to making the whole Middle East a WMD free zone.
SPIEGEL: That, too, is a question of trust. If you admit to having 45 storage depots for such weapons, how do we know that is correct? SPIEGEL: This is also a matter of trust. You say you have 32 stores, while Western intelligence services put the figure at 50.
Assad: The president doesn't deal with the numbers. He deals with the policy. We're very transparent. The experts can go to every site. They are going to have all the data from our government, and then they're going to verify that data on the ground. Then they can say if we are credible or not. We don't accept or commit ourselves to any agreement partially. This is our history. We're not going to pay for the destruction of the weapons, though. President Assad: This is a technical issue better determined by specialists. As president, my focus is on the political track. We are transparent and the experts can access any facility. We’ll provide them with the data, which they can examine and verify and then judge our credibility. When we say we are transparent, we mean it: to date, we have complied with every agreement we have signed. Our history testifies to this. However, we will not bear the costs of destroying the weapons.
SPIEGEL: Is the international community supposed to believe that you don't have secret depots? SPIEGEL: And the international community should simply accept that you haven’t hidden secret stockpiles somewhere?
Assad: In international relations there's nothing called trust; there's something called mechanism. They don't have to trust me in person. What counts is that the institutions work together -- my government and the OPCW -- and if I have the trust of the Syrian people. I'm not made by the West. I am made by the Syrians. President Assad: In international relations, things are not about trust and believing, they are about setting up the mechanisms on which the approach can be based. Whether you trust me as a person is not important. What is important is for institutions to work with each other: my government and the OPCW. What is important for me is to win the trust of the Syrian people and not the West. What is important for me is Syria not the West.
SPIEGEL: You don't need the West? SPIEGEL: Don’t you need the West?
Assad: Of course we do, but not instead of the Syrians, and not instead of our real friends like the Russians. The Russians understand the reality here much better. I'm not just praising them because we have long relations. They are more independent than Europe, which is too oriented toward US policy. President Assad: Of course, but not to replace the Syrians, or the Russians who are real friends. They understand better than the West the truth about what is happening here in reality. If I am praising them now, this is not because of the close ties that have linked us for years, but because, frankly, the Russians are more independent than you are in Europe. You rely too much on the United States in your policies and easily adopt its policies.
SPIEGEL: The Russians are only concerned with their strategic interests. SPIEGEL: The fact of the matter is that the Russians have strategic interests in Syria.
Assad: You can discuss this with President Vladimir Putin. But let me say this: Some Europeans have come to us through different channels to say that they are convinced about our position and analysis, but cannot voice this out loud. President Assad: You can discuss that with President Putin. But I will say that some Europeans have come and signaled that they are convinced with our political position and that they share our analyses and explanations of the situation. But they cannot say this in public because it’s difficult for them at this moment in time.
SPIEGEL: Is that also true with regard to your portrayal of the chemical weapons attack? SPIEGEL: And this applies to the poisonous gas attack?
Assad: Obama's lies couldn't even convince the American people. According to one poll, 51 percent were against a military strike against Syria. The British parliament was against it too. The French parliament had a bitter debate about it. The atmosphere in Europe was against such an attack. Why? Because the majority didn't believe the story. President Assad:Of course. I say some, not all. To make this clearer, I’ll elaborate on the accusations against us. Both Obama and Kerry presented lies. But Obama couldn’t convince his people with his lies. According to one opinion poll, 51% of the American people reject a military strike against Syria. The British Parliament was against the strike too; and there was a tough debate in the French parliament. The whole “atmosphere” in Europe was against the strike,including the Vatican. Why? Because most people didn’t believe Obama’s story.
SPIEGEL: Are any of the European contacts that you continue to maintain from Germany? SPIEGEL: Is Germany part of the contacts you are making?
Assad: We have some relations with some institutions, and have recently been using channels that didn't exist before. We exchange some information, but we cannot say that we have political relations. President Assad: We have contacts with some institutions and recently there have been channels that didn’t exist before. We exchange information, but we cannot talk about political communications.
SPIEGEL: Does Germany play a special role for you? SPIEGEL: Does Germany play a special role for you?
Assad: When I think of Europe, I ask myself who is closer to the reality in my region? Every European position is still far from our reality. Germany and Austria have the most objective and closest position to reality. The German position is the closest. President Assad: When I look at Europe, the question for me is: who is closer to the reality of what is happening in our region? For us now, Germany and Austria have the most objective vision and are the closest to reality. This helps achieve Europe’s interests.
SPIEGEL: Could Germany take on the role of intermediary? SPIEGEL: Could Germany play an intermediary role?
Assad: Of course, I would like to see envoys from Germany come to Syria to see and discuss the reality. Coming here doesn't mean you support the government. But if you come here, you can do, you can talk, you can discuss, you can convince. If you think you have to isolate us, you only end up isolating yourselves. This is also about your interests: Do you really want a backyard that is filled with al-Qaida? When you support instability here? After two and a half years, you should rethink your policies. President Assad: I would be happy if German envoys visited Damascus to engage with us directly. If they talk to us, it doesn’t mean they support our government. They can ascertain for themselves the situation and base their work on the facts. If they think that by not engaging with us, they are isolating us, I tell them: you are isolating yourselves from reality; so, it’s about their interests. What do they gain when al-Qaeda is in their backyard wreaking havoc on the world? After two and half years, they should reconsi their policies. They should ask themselves: what are they gaining. What do their people gain when there is a state of chaos that they are supporting?
SPIEGEL: Given the unrest in your country, do you even have your chemical weapons arsenal under control? SPIEGEL: In light of the unrest in your country, are the chemical weapons stockpiles un control?
Assad: Of course, under full control. Because let me tell you this: the material that could be used by any regular army doesn't exist in the stores in activated form. So no one can use it before it is activated. President Assad: There is no cause for concern, they are very well protected.
SPIEGEL: Is this also true of depots containing biological weapons, which you also possess?
SPIEGEL: This applies to biological weapons too? You have biological weapons?
Assad: It is classified information. We never talk about military classified information, but this should not be understood as confirmation that we possess them. President Assad: We didn’t give any information in this regard because it is consi ed classified information. This should not be understood as confirmation that we possess them.
SPIEGEL: Do you understand the international community's fears that these weapons of mass destruction could fall into the hands of terrorists? SPIEGEL: You understand the international community’s concern about WMDs falling into the hands of the terrorists.
Assad: The situation is not as bad as it seems in the media and the West. There is no need for any undue concern. President Assad: It is not as bad as it is portrayed by the media and believed in the West. There is no need for any undue concern.
SPIEGEL: According to our information, the armed opposition controls at least 40 percent of the country, and some estimates put that figure as high as more than two-thirds of the country. SPIEGEL: As far as we know, you lost about 40% of your territories to the armed opposition, and in some areas about two thirds of the land.
Assad: These numbers are exaggerated. Sixty percent of Syria is desert. Who's in the desert? Nobody. In the rest of the country they don't control a single full area.
President Assad: These are exaggerated figures. 60% of the country is desert and there is nobody there. In other parts of the country, the terrorists don’t control any connected areas.
SPIEGEL: That's not true for the area along the Turkish borders. SPIEGEL: This doesn’t apply to the area adjacent to the Turkish borders.
Assad: They are on the borders in the north of Aleppo with Turkey, but only on that part, not fully. They have some areas, but they are just focal points. We're not talking about a front. Sometimes they are isolated in areas where there's no army to fight them. But this isn't about percentages. The solidarity of the population is much more important to us. And this is growing because many don't want terrorists destroying the country any more. President Assad: They exist only in the area north of Aleppo, otherwise, there are only pockets. You cannot talk about a real frontline against us. Sometimes, these fighters are completely isolated and exist in areas where we don’t want to deploy the army. The percentage of land is not important to us. People’s solidarity is much more important and this is growing all the time, because they see what the terrorists are doing and what it leads to.
SPIEGEL: The brutality of the conflict has turned a quarter of the population -- some 6 million people -- into refugees. SPIEGEL: As a result of the violence of the conflict, a quarter of the Syrian population, i.e. five million people have become refugees.
Assad: We don't have a precise number. Even 4 million could be exaggerated because many Syrians moved within Syria to another house or with relatives and didn't register themselves. President Assad: We don’t have accurate figures; but even four million is an exaggerated figure. Many of those who are displaced within Syria go to live with relatives and don’t appear in any statistics.
SPIEGEL: You sound as if you are talking about a tax increase and not a humanitarian catastrophe. SPIEGEL: You talk about this issue as if it were an issue of paying taxes and not a humanitarian disaster.
Assad: Actually, no. In the West, when you ask about the number, you talk about it like spreadsheets. If you have 1 million or 5 million, you're going to do the same. Whether it's 70,000 victims, 80,000, then 90,000, or 100,000, it's like an auction. It's not an auction -- it's a tragedy. Whether it's 1,000 or 10,000, it's the same. President Assad:The exact opposite is true. You in the West use these figures as if you were reading a spreadsheet: four, five, six, seven million. These figures are of your making: seventy thousand victims, eighty thousand, ninety thousand, one hundred thousand, as if it were an auction.
SPIEGEL: The flood of refugees is happening for one reason -- you and your regime. SPIEGEL: The reason for this exodus is that people are fleeing you and your regime.
Assad: Sorry, is this a question or a statement of fact? If it's a statement, it's not correct. If it's a question, the first thing we have to ask is why people leave? You don't have one reason; you have multiple reasons. One of the reasons is that many people left their homes and houses because of the threat of the terrorists. President Assad: Is this a question or a statement? If it’s a statement, then it’s completely wrong. If people flee, they do so for a number of reasons, first of which is fear of the terrorists.
SPIEGEL: No one is fleeing your soldiers and security forces? SPIEGEL: Nobody flees from your soldiers and security forces?
Assad: The army represents Syria, otherwise you wouldn't have the army, because it would have been divided a long time ago. It is a threat to no one. When it comes to refugees, you have to ask yourself a question about the other governments, especially the Turkish government. What is their interest in having these high numbers? You know what it is? Their interest is to use them as a humanitarian card with the UN. Some other countries used them to get money for themselves, not the refugees. So you have corruption, interests and some people that could have fled because they are scared of the government, but we don't have anything against them. And in the last two weeks, more than 100,000 or 150,000, depending on the estimate, came back to Syria. So the tide has recently been reversed.
President Assad: The army represents Syria; otherwise it would have disintegrated long ago. It doesn’t pose a threat to anyone. When we talk about refugees, let’s talk about another government – the Turkish government – which uses these figures for its own interests. It manipulates these figures and plays this humanitarian card at the United Nations in or to put pressure on us. Another reason for their interests is the money they receive to help the refugees, the money that moves only in the wrong direction, to their pockets; there are so many reasons. Of course within these large numbers of refugees, yes, some did flee in fear of the government but the situation is now changing with about a hundred or a hundred and fifty thousand refugees returning home.
SPIEGEL:How did you convince people to return? SPIEGEL:How could you push those to take that step?
Assad: We worked hard to bring them back. We engaged with everybody to alleviate their fears. If you didn't violate the law, then we have no problem with you. If you are against the government, come be against the government in Syria. We don't have a problem. That was very successful. President Assad: We engaged with them in or to dispel their fears. Those who committed no crime have nothing to fear. Our message was: if you want to be against the government: come back and speak against us; and it worked.
SPIEGEL: From a military perspective, however, you haven't had any success. The capture of Aleppo that was promised has not come to pass. Maalula remains a major problem, and there's even fighting in the suburbs of Damascus. We heard the thunder of grenades on our way to your palace. SPIEGEL: You cannot show any military victory on any military front: you regaining control over Aleppo, which you announced, hasn’t happened. Ma’aloula is still a big problem. Even parts of Damascus are being shelled. We heard the sound of shelling on our way to your palace.
Assad: When you have this kind of crisis, you cannot say you are as strong as before. The damage is much too massive. To be realistic, it will take time before we get over this problem. We don't have any other option than to believe in our victory.

(missing text here)
President Assad: When you are dealing with this kind of crisis, it is impossible for you to be as strong as in the past. The damage is huge and we’ll need a lot of time to overcome this. But the army and the people are united; and we have no choice but to trust and believe in our victory and in saving our country.
SPIEGEL: How can you be so confident of victory when you need help from Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah? SPIEGEL: How can you believe in your victory if you brought Hezbollah in to help you?
Assad: Lebanon is a small country with a population of 4 million. In Damascus alone we have 5 million. Syria is too big for Hezbollah even if they want to send all their troops. We fought with them on the border with Lebanon against terrorists who attacked their loyalists, and we cooperated, and that was good. President Assad: Lebanon is a very small country, about four million people. Damascus alone has five million, and Syria is too large and wide a country to be covered by Hezbollah. We cooperated on the borders with Lebanon in the fight against those terrorists who were also attacking Hezbollah members. That cooperation was fruitful and successful.
SPIEGEL: So you could actually do without Hezbollah's help? SPIEGEL: So, you can at last do without Hezbollah’s help?
Assad: That's not what I said. I'm talking about the perception in the West and in the media that Hezbollah is fighting because the Syrian army cannot fight. Even if you want to make it a reality, you can't, because the proportion doesn't work. President Assad: I didn’t say that, I only wanted to clarify and correct the western perception that the Syrian army couldn’t fight any more and that’s why Hezbollah intervened.
SPIEGEL: Hezbollah are among the few who still support you. Russian President Putin appears to be slowly losing his patience with you. And the new Iranian president, Hassan Rohani, could find rapprochement with the US to be more important than your survival. SPIEGEL: Hezbollah is one of the few entities that continue to support you. It seems that President Putin is gradually losing his patience with you.
Assad: Putin is more supportive than ever. This has been proven by Russia's three vetoes against sanctions in the UN Security Council. President Assad: President Putin is more supportive of us now than any other time. He showed this by using three vetoes at the Security Council to prevent sanctions against us.
SPIEGEL: But he voted in favor of a resolution to destroy your chemical weapons. SPIEGEL: But he endorsed the most recent resolution, which calls for the destruction of the chemical weapons
Assad: It's a good resolution. President Assad: That was a good resolution
SPIEGEL: Because it prevented a US air strike? SPIEGEL: Because it averted the military strike?
Assad: There's not a single point in that resolution that's against our interests. The Russians see very clearly what we are doing here because they suffered from terrorists in Chechnya, and they know the meaning of terrorism. President Assad: There was no item in that resolution that undermined our interests. President Putin knows from his experience in fighting terrorism in Chechnya what we are going through here.
SPIEGEL: Does that mean you are confident Moscow will deliver the S-300 air defense system you've been waiting on for months?
SPIEGEL: That’s why you are confident Moscow will provide you with the S300 air defense system, which you have been waiting months for?
Assad: He said very clearly on many different occasions that he would continue supporting Syria, and that he's committed to the contract -- not only on air defense, but all kinds of armaments. President Assad: He has said more than once that he will support Syria in different fields and that he is committed to the contracts signed between us. This doesn’t only apply to air defense systems but to other weapons as well which enable us to defend ourselves.
SPIEGEL: The international community will do everything possible to prevent you from acquiring more arms. SPIEGEL: The international community will do everything to prevent arming you.
Assad: On what grounds? They don't have any right. We are a state, and we have the right to defend ourselves. We don't occupy others' lands. Why doesn't the international community oppose Israel when they get all these armaments? Germany sent Israel three submarines, and they occupy our land. We don't trust the West because of its double standards. President Assad: What right do they have? We are a sovereign state, and we have the right to defend ourselves. We don’t occupy anybody’s land. Why isn’t the international community bothered when Israel gets all kinds of weapons? Why should Israel receive three submarines from Germany, despite the fact that it is an occupying power and still occupies our land? We have the right to arm ourselves in accordance with the U.N. charter. This is why the West isn’t objective in this position; it’s because of these double standards that we don’t trust the West.
SPIEGEL: Even if Putin delivers the new air defense system, aren't you afraid that Israel will bomb it to pieces? SPIEGEL: Aren’t you concerned that Israel will shell the new defense system as soon as it arrives from Moscow?
Assad: You cannot be afraid. When you are in a war situation, you don't do something because you're afraid of doing it. You have to strengthen yourself and not to allow your enemy to destroy your armaments or to win. President Assad: In our case, and in this state of war, we don’t allow ourselves to feel fear. We have to do everything to be strong; and we shall not allow anyone to destroy our armaments and military equipment.
SPIEGEL: And if they try? SPIEGEL: And if it happened?
Assad: When that happens we can talk about it. President Assad: Then, if things come to that, we shall talk about it then.
SPIEGEL: In the past you sounded more self-confident when it came to Israel.
SPIEGEL: In the past your rhetoric about Israel was more self-confident.
Assad: No, we have always said we need peace and stability in this region. Even if you want to retaliate, you have to ask yourself the question: What would the result be? Now that we're fighting al-Qaida, in particular, we have to be cautious that we don't start a new war. President Assad: No, we need peace and stability in this region. We have always been aware of this. When it comes to revenge and reacting to a strike, we need to ask ourselves: where would that lead, particularly now that we are fighting al-Qaeda. We need to be careful not to ignite a new war.
SPIEGEL: At what point will you be able to claim victory over al-Qaida? SPIEGEL: When will you win against al-Qaeda?
Assad: The victory is stability. The first phase is to get rid of the terrorists. The second one, which is more difficult and dangerous, is to get rid of their ideology, which has infiltrated some parts in Syria. It cannot be that an eight-year-old boy tries to behead someone, which happened in the north. Or that children watch the beheading with jubilation, happy like they're watching a soccer match, for example. If we don't deal with this problem, which is more dangerous than the terrorists themselves, we're going to face a bleak future. President Assad: When we restore stability; that’s why we must get rid of the terrorists. Then, we need to get rid of their ideology that has infiltrated certain areas of Syria, because it is more dangerous than terrorism itself. This ideology, which encourages an eight-year old boy to slaughter a man while adults and children watch and cheer as if they were watching a football match. This actually happened in northern Syria. Getting rid of this mentality and liberating ourselves from it is going to be more difficult than getting rid of the chemical weapons.
SPIEGEL: This scene wouldn't sound all that surprising if it had taken place in Somalia. But in Syria? SPIEGEL: Such scenes might not be strange in states like Somalia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but in Syria?
Assad: The brutality we are experiencing in Syria is incredible. People slaughtered a Christian bishop by slitting his throat with a small knife. President Assad: The brutality we are witnessing in Syria is incredible. Think of the Bishop whose head the terrorists severed with a small knife.
SPIEGEL: Do you still believe you can return Syria to its pre-war state? SPIEGEL: Somalia, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been “failed” states for decades. Yet, you believe you can restore Syria back to pre-rebellion times?
Assad: In terms of stability, of course we can. If we stop billions in support for the terrorists from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the logistic support of Turkey, we could solve this problem in a few months. President Assad: Concerning stability, yes, when an end is put to billions of dollars flowing from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, when Turkey stops its logistical assistance to the terrorists. Then we can solve the problem in a few months.
SPIEGEL: Is it still possible to find a solution through negotiations? SPIEGEL: Is a negotiated solution still possible?
Assad: With the militants? No. The definition of political opposition doesn't include an army. We will negotiate with whoever wants to lay down his arms and go back to normality. Since we discussed deserters before, I'd like to point out that it's going the other way too. People who used to be militants are fighting with the army now.
President Assad: With the armed groups - no. My definition of the opposition is a political program or entity that doesn’t carry weapons. If they were to lay down their weapons and return to normal life, it would be possible to talk to such people. When we spoke earlier about defectors, it is also important to point out that now many of them are withdrawing from rebel camps and joining the fight on our side.
SPIEGEL: The international community blames you for the escalation of this conflict, whose end is not yet in sight. How do you live with this guilt? SPIEGEL: For the international community, you are responsible for escalating this conflict, which has no end in sight. How can you cope with such guilt?
Assad: It's not about me, but about Syria. The situation in Syria worries and saddens me; that's where my concern is. I am not concerned for myself. President Assad: It’s not about me, but about Syria. The situation in Syria worries and saddens me; that’s where my concern is, I am not concerned for myself.
SPIEGEL: Are your wife and three children still standing by you?
SPIEGEL: Do your wife and three children stand at your side?
Assad: Of course, they never left Damascus for one moment. President Assad: Certainly, they have never left Damascus for one moment.
SPIEGEL: Do you sometimes fear that something like what happened to Romanian President Ceausescu might happen to you? After a short trial, he was shot by his own soldiers. SPIEGEL: Has it crossed your mind that your end will be similar to President Ceausescu of Romania, when he was killed by a group of his soldiers?
Assad: If I were afraid, I would have left Syria a long time ago. President Assad: I am not worried about myself. Had I been worried and fearful, I would have left Syria a long time ago.
SPIEGEL: Mr. President, we thank you for this interview. SPIEGEL: Mr. President, thank you very much for this interview.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in combat with corporate Der Spiegel

The front cover of SPIEGEL

SPIEGEL front cover of issue containing the interview with President Bashar al-Assad. The translation into English reads:

How do you live with the guilt, Mr. Assad?

SPIEGEL - CONVERSATION WITH THE SYRIAN DICTATOR.


We place these two images side by side for comparison. The photo on the left is published inside the Spiegel website and the one on the right appears on the front page of this issue of their print magazine giving President Assad a sort of Hitleresque appearance. Both images also appear on their website.

Discussion:
The significant omissions and textual differences in these two translations of the interview obviously tell us that either the SANA or the Der Spiegel translators doctored the original interview to suit whatever respective agendas they may have had. To determine the culprits we used a number of criteria including motive, linguistics (use of terms) and beneficiaries of the variants. Motive and beneficiaries are closely linked as they go to the purpose served by changing the text. Using these 3 indices, in our analysis all the differences in text favored the US/European/Israeli position against Assad. The aggressive tone of Der Spiegel's "interview" contains 32 accusatory statements rather than questions for President Assad to answer and other simiilar statements (not questions) with a question mark added. Consistently the differences in text reflected negatively on President Assad. The "motive and beneficiary" criteria also add weight to Assad's candor as he frequently admits his own mistakes and that of his government. If SANA were intent on modifying the interview in Assad's favor, these admissions surely would have been altered.

Finally, a linguistic analysis suggests that the Der Spiegel translator(s) attributed words to President Assad that we were unable to find in his other interviews or quotes in the media. Taking just one of those terms as an example,  "militants" ascribed to him by Der Spiegel is not a term used by President Assad. He typically refers to al Qaeda and other foreign invaders as "armed groups," "terrorists," "extremists" and "jihadis." "Militants" is a term used by the west and not part of President Assad's lexicon. On the other hand, President Assad often begins his answers in this and other interviews with, "Of course."

Another striking example of this is found in Der Spiegel's attribution of President Assad's response to their statement/question, "This scene wouldn't sound all that surprising if it had taken place in Somalia. But in Syria?" According to Der Spiegel the president replied:

Assad: The brutality we are experiencing in Syria is incredible. People slaughtered a Christian bishop by slitting his throat with a small knife.

SANA's translation of his response is:

President Assad: The brutality we are witnessing in Syria is incredible. Think of the Bishop whose head the terrorists severed with a small knife.

Many may be unaware that the president is a former medical doctor and the reader can judge which quote sounds more like they were uttered by a trained physician: "People slaughtered a Christian Bishop by slitting his throat" - or - "Think of the Bishop whose head the terrorists severed with a small knife" sounds more like a physician.

Considering the photo-shopped negative image of President Assad on the front page of this issue of Der Spiegel, their aggressive attitude, their assertions and opinions rather than open questions, their blatant use of the word "we" speaking collectively with the anti-Assad western governments and these criteria for analysis it is our opinion that Der Spiegel translated the interview dishonestly to further villainize the Syrian President as the West is wont to do for the US-European quest to bring down the al-Assad government (i.e. "regime change") and to destabilize the region. Their servile pandering to the United States is typical of Germany and most European US lapdogs.

This interview can not only be viewed as an effort to villanize President al-Assad in lock-step with the western media. It also serves an effort to gather intelligence. A number of questions asked sought to pry information from President Assad but clearly, he was well prepared for this. Two examples of this are Der Spiegel's questioning of the president about Syria's response should Israel bomb the country and questions about his armaments. One pf the reasons why these lies in translation are important is that they reach a much broader European readership in print and internet than SANA's translation.

In the face of the many crass personal insults and dishonesty, disrespectful of a head of state by the Der Spiegel "interviewers," President Bashar al-Assad maintained an impressive amount of self-control with thoughtful, rational replies. His dignity exposed the weaknesses in Der Spiegel's western political positions. The primates who conducted this shameful attack were simply out of their league.   

Biography, Essays and Poetry by Les Blough


© Copyright 2014 by AxisofLogic.com

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