Editing Hashim al-Atassi (section)

== Final years ==

In what remained of his term, the 80-year-old president tried to curb the influence of military officers and worked relentlessly against the leftist current that was brewing in Syria, characterized by [[Socialism|socialist]] ideology, sympathies for the [[Soviet Union]], and blind adherence to the policies of the socialist leader of Egypt, [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], policies which were supported even among members of the president's own powerful clan, such as [[Jamal al-Atassi]] and [[Nureddin al-Atassi]]. Atassi defied President Nasser and worked in vain to keep Syria out of his socialist orbit.

Unlike most Arab leaders, Atassi believed that Nasser was too young, inexperienced and ideological to lead the Arab world. The Syrian President cracked down on Nasserite elements and clashed with his own pro-Nasser Prime Minister [[Sabri al-Asali]], accusing him of wanting to transform Syria into an Egyptian [[Satellite state|satellite]]. In 1955, the President was tempted to accept the [[Baghdad Pact]], an Anglo-American agreement aimed at containing Communism in the region, but [[Nasserite]] elements in the Syrian Army prevented him from doing so. He rallied in support of Hashemite Iraq, whose leaders were competing with Nasser over pan-Arab leadership, and was allied to Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nuri al-Sa'id]]. Atassi then dissolved the cabinet of Assali and appointed [[Said al-Ghazzi]] followed by [[Faris al-Khoury]], a moderate statesman, as Prime Minister. Atassi dispatched Khoury to Egypt to present Syrian objections to Egyptian hegemony over Arab affairs.