WRONG QUESTION

Syrian president: Does al-Qaida exist? (AP, May 26, 2003)

Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview published Sunday that he doubts the existence of al-Qaida.

''Is there really an entity called al-Qaida? Was it in Afghanistan? Does it exist now?'' Assad asked, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba.

Osama bin Laden, the Islamic extremist who heads al-Qaida, ''cannot talk on the phone or use the Internet, but he can direct communications to the four corners of the world?'' Assad said.

''This is illogical.''

Such speculation is popular among some in the Arab world who say Washington has manufactured or exaggerated the threat posed by al-Qaida in order to paint Muslims as dangerous.

The more important question is why does Mr. Assad still exist? Posted by Orrin Judd at May 26, 2003 10:15 AM