“Punishing Syria will boomerang”

While the Security Council discusses the Mehlis report, thinking about the best and the worst of all possible scenarios is convenient. At the very best, the Security Council would ask Syria to cooperate and it will agree. Therefore, inspectors will be allowed to question the suspects. In the worst case, Syria would be condemned by the Security Council and Damascus will face this organization. Consequently, it will be punished. None of the scenarios is good.
We should recall that Hariri’s assassination is the inevitable result of a political model created by Syria that has made killings a normal practice. Syria has founded a system based on violence and repression. As long as the system lasts, crimes and violations will persist, no matter if Syria was responsible for the assassination of Hariri or not. However, if the Damascus regime “cooperates”, it could save time, paradoxically. Meanwhile, the pro-Syria Lebanese leaders will continue their work in Lebanon; Syria will maintain its support to the Hezbollah and the Iraqi terrorists whereas opponents will remain in jail. Likewise, if sanctions are imposed, the regime will not be destroyed and its attitude won’t change.
The only possible way out is a change of government.