The joint Jordanian-Syrian Committee for Cooperation in Combating Drug Smuggling Across the Syrian Border to Jordan held its first meeting yesterday.

Most analysts of the captagon crisis are waiting to see whether Assad will accept the Gulf’s offers of limited political rehabilitation and economic support in exchange for stemming the flow of the drug. Or will he continue to profit from the industry and pass on the offer? Assad’s slimy nature means he’ll aim for both: giving the impression of trying to crack down on the industry while sponsoring it under the table.

But this time is different; no one has the energy for Assad’s empty promises.