RAMALLAH Jan. 6 (JMCC) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad thinks the US administration and a new generation of Israeli politicians don't really know what they want in the region.

[The Israelis] wanted to destroy Hamas in the war [in December, 2008] and make Abu Mazen strong in the West Bank. Actually it is a police state, and they weakened Abu Mazen and made Hamas stronger. Now they wanted to destroy Hamas. But what is the substitute for Hamas? It is Al Qaeda, and they do not have a leader to talk to, to talk about anything. They are not ready to make dialogue. They [Al Qaeda] only want to die in the field.

Read more at the New Yorker...