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Syria: Syrius Change. Brandon Timbrook Period 1. هذا هو مشروع بلدي سوريا. Location. Country in Western Asia Bordered by Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea Capital City = Damascus Built on site of numerous ancient empires. Bashar Al-Assad.
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Syria: Syrius Change Brandon Timbrook Period 1 هذا هو مشروع بلدي سوريا
Location • Country in Western Asia • Bordered by Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea • Capital City = Damascus • Built on site of numerous ancient empires
Bashar Al-Assad • President of Syria since 2000 (has run unopposed each time) • Leader of the Ba’ath Party • Heir to his father’s 29 year rule of Syria • Noted disregard for human rights/corruption • Harsh critic of US and Israel
Dissent/Revolt • Beginning in March 2011, outbreak of “anti-regime” protests in Syria • Protests in Damascus (mostly focused in outskirts of city) • Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union + Free Syrian Army • Revolters = Young, Middle Class [Mostly Male] Citizens • Majority = Sunni Muslims • “Working classes against elite”
Government Response • Protests met with violent government suppression • Notable Examples: • Shooting of protestors in Dara’a • Hospitalizing of popular political cartoonist Ali Ferzat • Bombing of known protestor city(s)
Foreign Involvement • Limited US involvement • Withdrawal of Ambassador Robert Ford from Syria • Increasing isolation from European countries + trading partners (Turkey, etc.)
Similarities to American Revolution • Began with protests (similar to boycotts, etc.) • Sparked by want for change/democracy • Similar government suppression (parallels with Boston Massacre) • Male-led • Foreign support for cause • Importance of communication (Committees of Correspondence vs. Social Networking) • Economic hardship • Division between those for vs. thos against • Suppression of rights • Rise of regional groups ( i.e. SRCU + FSA vs. local militias)
Differences from American Revolution • Britain ruled from afar, Syrian revolution vs. President/local leaders • New technology ―› more devastating consequences • Syria = yet to develop into complete armed conflict • Syria = lack of well-known revolutionary leaders (much more secretive) • No uniform, revolutionary force yet in Syria
What the Future Holds • Like other Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Libya, etc.) a distinct Syrian revolutionary force will rise + overthrow Al-Assad • US Involvement imminent • Est. of a democratic government? • However, economic hardship + isolation from other nations may ―› corruption should a new regime be put in place
Bibliography • Abouzeid, Rania. “Dissent in Damascus’ Shadows”. Aug 12, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088366,00.html • Al Haqq, Hussain [ALIAS]. “Syria: Interview with Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union leader in Qabon”. Jul 10, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://asingleman1.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/syria-interview-with-syrian-revolution-coordinators-union-leader-in-qabon/ • Karam, Zeina. “Prominent Syrian cartoonist beaten”. Aug 26, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://articles.boston.com/2011-08-26/news/29932124_1_damascus-spring-bashar-assad-syrians • Karon, Tony. “Mired in Libya and Fearful of Consequences, West Holds Back From Syria Intervention”. Aug 3, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/08/03/mired-in-libya-and-fearful-of-consequences-west-holds-back-from-syria-intervention/ • Sly, Liz. “Syria's President Assad Pressed To Open Dialogue”. Oct 26, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://www.npr.org/2011/10/26/141728626/syrias-president-assad-pressed-to-open-dialogue • Spencer, Richard. “Syria reacts with fury to US involvement in Hama”. Jul 8, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8626514/Syria-reacts-with-fury-to-US-involvement-in-Hama.html