Games Without Frontiers

After months of denying any involvement in harboring former Baathists, Syria coughed up Sab'awi Ibram, Saddam's half-brother, and a man with a blood-soaked resume. Of course, this capture came at an opportune time, when the Syrian regime sorely needed P.R. karma. (Even lefties in the West are flapping about change.)

But a close reading of the news suggests that Ibram and company were nailed by Syrian Kurds. Last year this same group rioted against oppression from Damascus. Crackdowns and reprisals ensued. Could these Kurds have captured the hideout Baathists just to stick it to Syrian President Assad - who played it off as his initiative? They did hand him over to Iraqi Kurds first, not their native government.

Kurds don't have their own country - but they're smart, tough, and patient. Iraqi Kurds are still in the process, waiting for the electoral situation to come into focus, even though they've got valid reasons to want independence. As democracy takes root in the region overall, lets hope the Kurd's longstanding fortitude earns them a fair say in their own destiny.