Ever since Syria united with Egypt 21 months ago, the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus has been little more than a place where local politicians sip coffee while carrying out the long-distance orders of others. But last week the slouching sentries were snapping as never before. Egypt's Nasser had sent up his own commander in chief, Abdel Hakim Amer, on a special mission from Cairo—to make a restless partner happier with its lot. No longer was there any pretense that Syrians were running their own show.
Almost from the start, the Syrians had had second thoughts about their impulsive merger. The job...
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