Overthrow of Assad in Syria

[Keith_M]

I realise this is being discussed elsewhere but thought it worthy of a thread of it's own.


There's no doubt that Assad was a tyrant and that a large part of the population will be delighted he's gone, but I'm not 100% convinced that it's going to end well.

The two largest groups that have taken over are the Islamist 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham', plus the Turkish backed Syrian militia that calls itself the 'Syrian National Army'.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/who-are-syrian-rebels-hts/story?id=116571007


One group being linked to Erdogan and the other being an Islamist of-shoot of Al-Qaeda does not bode well for either the people of Syria or it's neighbour, Israel.

[Ozyhibby]

I realise this is being discussed elsewhere but thought it worthy of a thread of it's own.


There's no doubt that Assad was a tyrant and that a large part of the population will be delighted he's gone, but I'm not 100% convinced that it's going to end well.

The two largest groups that have taken over are the Islamist 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham', plus the Turkish backed Syrian militia that calls itself the 'Syrian National Army'.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/who-are-syrian-rebels-hts/story?id=116571007


One group being linked to Erdogan and the other being an Islamist of-shoot of Al-Qaeda does not bode well for either the people of Syria or it's neighbour, Israel.

No way to predict how it will go but change had to happen. It’s up to the west to try shape things in the best way possible.


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[Keith_M]

No way to predict how it will go but change had to happen. It’s up to the west to try shape things in the best way possible.





I'm not sure about that.

One of the reasons that large parts of the Middle East are in an almost constant state of war and turmoil is because of western imperialism, e.g. creating artificial countries based on random borders, plus decades of interference in Middle Eastern affairs.

I agree there's a responsibility to make up for historical mistakes but any engagement has to be at the invitation of the country in question, and I don't see that happening here.

[Ozyhibby]

I'm not sure about that.

One of the reasons that large parts of the Middle East are in an almost constant state of war and turmoil is because of western imperialism, e.g. creating artificial countries based on random borders, plus decades of interference in Middle Eastern affairs.

I agree there's a responsibility to make up for historical mistakes but any engagement has to be at the invitation of the country in question, and I don't see that happening here.

I’m not advocating imperialism. The new regime is taking over a bankrupt country that can’t support itself. We can help rebuild in return for reforms that include all parts of Syria in the rebuild.


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[Keith_M]

I’m not advocating imperialism. The new regime is taking over a bankrupt country that can’t support itself. We can help rebuild in return for reforms that include all parts of Syria in the rebuild.


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I never thought for a moment you were mate, it's more how the Syrians themselves would react to what they might see as unwanted interference, given recent and past history.

For what it's worth, I'd be all in favour of the West helping struggling nations but it's not always as straightforward as we'd hope.

[Stairway 2 7]

Assad and Putin are estimated by the UN to have killed 500k Syrians. They deliberately targeted the white helmet rescue teams, flattened Aleppo, gassed multiple civilian areas, barrel and cluster bombed cities, murdered hundreds of opponents and were seeing multiple toddlers being freed from prison cells.

Are we expecting worse in the future. I think we should let the Syrians overthrow genocide whilst we're safe here

[tamig]

I realise this is being discussed elsewhere but thought it worthy of a thread of it's own.


There's no doubt that Assad was a tyrant and that a large part of the population will be delighted he's gone, but I'm not 100% convinced that it's going to end well.

The two largest groups that have taken over are the Islamist 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham', plus the Turkish backed Syrian militia that calls itself the 'Syrian National Army'.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/who-are-syrian-rebels-hts/story?id=116571007


One group being linked to Erdogan and the other being an Islamist of-shoot of Al-Qaeda does not bode well for either the people of Syria or it's neighbour, Israel.

HTS cut ties with Al-Quaeda in 2016.

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/10/syria-new-leader-two-identities-ahmed-al-sharaa-abu-mohammed-al-jolani?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu

Syria at a very real crossroads now and nobody really knows which way it will go.


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[AgentDaleCooper]

I’m not advocating imperialism. The new regime is taking over a bankrupt country that can’t support itself. We can help rebuild in return for reforms that include all parts of Syria in the rebuild.


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we could, but we'll probably do it in a way that primarily serves the financial interests of our country, then look all confused when it turns into a disaster.

[superfurryhibby]

we could, but we'll probably do it in a way that primarily serves the financial interests of greedy "partnership" profiteers then look all confused when it turns into a disaster.

Fixed that one for you. We've seen how that plays out before.

[Keith_M]

Really horrendous stories coming out of Syria now, especially with the way Assad treated those opposed to his rule. How those prisoners were treated is just horrendous.

No wonder he's friendly with Putin, they have so much in common.


As per usual, Israel now taking the opportunity to bomb the **** out of a neighbouring country.

[Bristolhibby]

Really horrendous stories coming out of Syria now, especially with the way Assad treated those opposed to his rule. How those prisoners were treated is just horrendous.

No wonder he's friendly with Putin, they have so much in common.


As per usual, Israel now taking the opportunity to bomb the **** out of a neighbouring country.

TBF is you accept that Israel “doesn’t give a ***” what anyone thinks of them. Even less with Trump in the White House.

And knowing the fact that the new regime will likely be openly hostile towards Israel, why not take out their airforce, air defence and military assets while the whole situation is chaotic?

One less neighbour to worry about.

J

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05p9g2nqmeo


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[Keith_M]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05p9g2nqmeo


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My first thought wasn't really whether they were a threat to the world, more to the people living in and around Syria.

Though given what I've been reading recently about Assad's regime, it could hardly be worse.

It would be good if they finally got peace in their country, after the the horrendous events of the last couple of decades. So far a large number of people in Syria seems to be welcoming them, so fingers crossed.