Analysts are increasingly drawing attention to tics and quirks in the behavior of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, above and beyond the dictator’s alleged willingness to order Syrian troops to gas to death thousands of his country’s civilians. Evaluating a recent Fox News interview with the Syrian strongman, Richard Grenell – a former Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy for the U.S.’s mission at the U.N – found Assad’s demeanor jarring:

Assad appeared calm, comfortable and yet delusional, talking in almost perfect English, as he consistently labeled the rebels as “terrorists,” claiming that 80 – 90% of the opposition fighting against his military was comprised of Al Qaeda supporters and other jihadists… Assad’s demeanor was so measured he appeared to be anything but angry about the chaos around him. Assad was straight-faced and tranquil when he deceived the viewers by claiming “civil wars start from within…we don’t have these lines.”

The interview comes after the New York Times had already quoted analysts suggesting that Assad’s bravado may be leading the Syrian leader to act recklessly:

Some analysts cautioned that Mr. Assad could be overplaying his hand. “The Syrian regime swings between nihilism and triumphalism; there’s nothing in between,” said one Damascus-based analyst who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. “The chemical weapons deal — there is no deal, it’s very impractical, and if that becomes clear, it could put Obama in a stronger position vis-à-vis airstrikes.”

A recent U.N. report concluded that Assad’s forces were responsible for massacres stretching back to last spring, and that eight of nine documented mass killings were committed by government forces. Analysts, human rights workers, and diplomats have expressed concerns that the recently inked Kerry-Lavrov deal will allow the Syrian ruler to continue committing mass atrocities.

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