This fall, the streets of Syria have been abuzz with ongoing conspiracy theories to account for the country’s woes. President al-Assad’s speech two weeks ago warned against conspiracies in the form of “psychological warfare” and “black propaganda” with Israel as the main beneficiary. Other usual suspects – Jews, Zionists, and America – are also blamed for the ongoing terrorist activities in Syria and Lebanon.

The most far-reaching conspiracy theory surrounds the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. The Syrian defense minister, Hassan Turkemani, was quoted shortly after the attack in the United Arab Emirates paper Al-Bayan on February 17, stating: “The only one to benefit is Israel.” In an article in Al-Khaleej on February 17, Wisam Hamoud, a political commentator, accused Israel and America of perpetrating the crime: “After assassinating al-Hariri, the Israelis and Americans can claim that there is a worsening in the region’s stability, and that there is a need for increasing democracy and for a new occupation. Thus, al-Hariri’s assassination, like many murders in Iraq, is an act of Israel’s secret service apparatus, or of America’s mercenaries hired to murder enlightened progressives in the Arab world.”

Following the assassination, the United Nations announced it would establish an official investigation headed by Detlev Mehlis. Not surprisingly, the Syrian press has attacked him and his investigation. Writing in Al-Thawra on October 9, Lebanese journalist Maria Maloof called him “the German fox,” comparing him to “Kojak, Columbo, and Inspector Gadget.”

An unnamed “Syrian citizen” discussed the Mehlis report in Teshreen on October 25: “The report was prepared to please the U.S. administration, Israel, and their allies. The means used to assassinate the late Hariri were very sophisticated. The technology is only available to a superpower developed secret services like the CIA or the Israeli Mossad.”

On October 31, the Syrian parliament had official proceedings on the Mehlis report. One unnamed Syrian lawmaker said: “You should look for the murderers of Hariri in Tel Aviv and Washington.” Lawmaker Huneim Namar said: “The greatest thing that the Americans and Israelis achieved from this Mehlis report is to divert attention away from any possible role played by the Israeli Mossad, [and] the American CIA, as well as to direct the spotlight exclusively on Syria.” Lawmaker Anwar Ubeid added: “What is happening today is an indication that America and Bush are coveting this nation’s resources. Syria is the only thorn to remain in the eye of Zionism … the Mehlis report is a clear attempt to pressure and harm Syria.’

Strongly hinting at America and Israel, Syria’s minister of expatriates, Bouthaina Shaaban, wrote in the London Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat on October 11 about Syria’s “enemies” scheming against the country: “How do Arabs feel when they read on the Internet that the late Rafik Hariri was assassinated for … his stand against the disarmament of Hezbollah and the international campaign he led regarding this issue and his rejection of a large U.S. military base in Beirut.” Mr. Shaaban, who frequently visits America to meet with Arab-American leaders, explained the Mehlis report is an attempt “to wipe out Arab ideology” and concluded by asking, “Who will be the main beneficiary from the series of events planned and executed by our enemies?”

The most shocking conspiracies came from the Syrian government press that has blamed Hariri’s sons for his assassination. The editor of Al-Thawra, Fayez Al-Sayegh, wrote on October 16: “The international investigation … ignored two factors, namely Israel … and al-Hariri’s heirs – his sons, his associates, or others who gained from his death.” An October 9 article in the Syrian weekly Al-Igtisadiyya also named Sad al-Hariri as responsible for a number of bombings and assassinations that occurred in Lebanon in the last few months.

A 12-page article in Teshreen on November 11 titled “Will the Real Killer of Hariri Please Show His Face” explained that as the December 15 deadline for the Mehlis report to be submitted to the United Nations approaches, the real culprit, the Zionists who “control the planet” with ruthless plans to destroy tiny Syria, should be held accountable.

It should be noted that the Syrian regime’s attempt to blame its current problems on others has had little success in easing the pressures it is facing. Some people are now openly questioning how much longer the al-Assad dynasty will continue.

Mr. Stalinsky is the executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute.