🇸🇾 🇺🇸 Syria and the US: The complicity of silence | Empire

Throughout the Cold War, US meddling in Syria poisoned the well of US-Syria relations.
Then, after 1990, there was co-operation on matters of mutual benefit, such as a response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and - a fact often conveniently overlooked - the so-called war on terror.
As the US has sought new ways to shift regional alliances at arm’s length, a locally-instigated movement has achieved what no outside power could - it has presented the first significant challenge to the Baathist regime. Over the course of almost two years, non-violent popular protest has mutated into bloody conflict.
With little appetite in Washington for direct intervention, the US is sending mixed messages.
In some ways, Washington’s overt - and covert - support for the rebels is playing into President Bashar al-Assad's hands, allowing him to claim he is fighting foreign intervention rather than domestic dissent, while also giving him space to fight back as brutally as he wants with no immediate threat of military involvement by the US, NATO, or other western powers.
The same forces which rushed into Libya - and just recently into Mali - are transforming Syria into another proxy killing field. But this time Washington’s silence contributes to the destruction.
Armed fighters have made substantial advances and dealt heavy casualties to government forces, seizing equipment and ammunition. But decisive military victory remains far from their grasp, if at all possible. And, complicating matters further, one of the best-organised, highly experienced, well equipped and most effective of the armed factions - Jabhat al-Nusra - has recently been declared a terrorist organisation by the Obama administration.
So what comes next in this confused and bitter calculus of confrontation? As President Obama begins his second term, will the US continue to give mixed messages?
Empire looks at the history of the US relationship with Syria and the current state of the armed uprising with interviewees: Richard Murphy, the former US ambassador to Syria; Douglas Little, a history professor at Clark University; Hasan Abu Hanya, an expert on Islamic movements; Michael Scheuer, the former chief of the CIA bin Laden Unit; and Abu Hasan, a Jabhat al-Nusra commander in Syria.
We explore who is right and who is wrong, and what is - or should be - the Obama policy towards Syria, with our guests: Bassam Haddad, the director of the Middle East studies programme at George Mason University, who is also editor of the online magazine Jadaliyya, and author of several books, including his latest Business Networks in Syria: The Political Economy of Authoritarian Resilience; David Pollock, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Juan Cole, a professor of Middle East history at the University of Michigan, and author of several books including his most recent Engaging the Muslim World; and Stephen Starr, a journalist and author of Revolt in Syria: Eyewitness to the Uprising.
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[@scmumpy]

This is the type on insightful retrospective that is needed to find complex solutions to complex issues. Kudos

[@kendrat199]

That saddens me. Honestly, I love that youtube has all these amazing educational videos in such an easy-to-access formula, but I hate the amount of people who are horribly misinformed being able to post their comments

[@1137moiz]

And in any case, Al-Jazeera's reporting standards put most of the "free world's" to shame.

[@COSMOTOPPER777]

Mr. Bashara, I don't share your politics, but I continue to find your work-product invaluable in providing perspectives on geo-political matters all but non-existent from domestic US media. Keep up the good work.

[@martinkoenigsberg5320]

The last part the silly roundtable- is Hilarious!

[@SHOOTandREVIEW]

“Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune. ” ~ C.G Jung

[@LeBabbleRabble]

I only watch this to see him break down the story and then say "and this is empire".

[@TPLiberal]

Give me a real source for the specific case you are talking about.

[@wrtgetrgetygerer2042]

Its annoying how the host constantly interrupts the speakers.

[@poeticalvision]

and when we ask "what do you want us to do?" it becomes a fight just to figure out whats right and by then a conflict as spawned from the situation numerous times..

[@serkelet2]

Asking the USA to not intervene in a middle east conflict is like asking the wolves to not eat their prey,

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

Very true.

[@willyfaded]

so sad seeing people dying to stand up and fight for there rights and freedom and then be labeled as a terrorist.

[@samatardavidbndphotofilm]

After watching 40 mins of these debates, how can they be asking questions like, "will Syria falls first or Bashar" It's been 2 years since the civil war started. The country has fallen. It needs to get back up. The Assad regime needs to relinquish power. All those refugees displaced is heart wrenching. People burning boots to stay warm. You would think the US motive in this fight should be an afterthought.

[@nitteo]

After Iraq and Afghanistan, we have no appetite to "help" in Syria. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't.

[@TheScienceofnature]

"They blame America for the war in Iraq and they blame America for the war in Syria". this example made my day. America can do what ever needs to get done, but whether that is what the people really want or not is something else. I think that American guy makes a great point.

[@StratusBlue]

The one that says "we" so often, speaking as if he is America, must squint and smile while he contributes to the conversation because his contribution is so out of harmony with reality. He is using a terrible form of magic. It is not his own invention. It is as if he is channeling. Such unfortunate creatures smile and laugh at the thought of human suffering. It is a poker tell. Watch for it.

[@Stteella]

Stratus Blue Your comment is a textbook case of psychological projection. The guy could not have been more blunt! You didn't like his answer. Oh well

[@lewars1912]

I seldom, if ever, agree with right-wing politicians, however, with regard to Syria, Ron Paul was spot on when he said in his June 19th 2012 floor speech: "We are already too much involved in supporting the forces within Syria anxious to overthrow the current government. Without outside interference, the strife-now characterized as a civil war-would likely be non-existent."

[@zaklanosrceVEVO]

Long Live Assad !!!

[@elimet35]

Stop the war and make peace for evrey body. Her biji Kurmanc

[@WhiteSeaLeviathan]

I miss Christopher Hitchens so much, i wanna know what he whould say about current issues.

[@TPLiberal]

The size of the Army is irrelevant if the rules of engagement have been so utterly constrained by politics that you can't use it. By today's rules of engagement, having the largest Military puts you at an incredible DISADVANTAGE.

[@Machevort]

It is the "Lancet".......

[@kendrat199]

I think if people could focus on morality than geopolitics, the world would be more peaceful

[@MsColdCanada]

"If it walks like a duck..." that could be applied here as "if it flies the black flag of Jihad, and it fights with weapons, then it is a Jihadist".

[@DixxyMAXWELL]

mixed messages?

[@galpeda01]

God bless Syria.

[@TPLiberal]

If I could completely ignore facts and history the way you seemed to be capable of doing I would agree with you.

[@goodmorning3528]

shia and sunni is the best gift by mohamed. if only there was no this gift i think there was no syrian war. syrians alone has the responsibility for this disaster no one else. Live together no matter how different you guys are.

[@avikazak655]

Be thankful that you're not livin in the third world

[@VastGameMaster]

That's how it sounds. Kinda reminds about our history where we really tried not to get involved with the second world war until pearl harbor happened. Almost every country was bagging for us to help them. But, I wouldn't say just the united states, what about all of NATO?

[@Meshugenah79]

The situation in Syria is a tricky one and there are no clear solutions to resolve the problem. Whatever decision the U.S. would take on Syria would result in negative consequences. The U.S. needs to choose the option with the least number of consequences.

[@StratusBlue]

Pollock and Cole, "professors", must have set a record in this video for being wrong.

[@mastervovan]

Syria: Nobel Peace Laureate Tells Her Account of What She Witnessed

[@greglawrencemusic]

I'm sorry, but the hood on the sound technician is kinda creepy. @ 13:56 - thru - 14:39 lays it out pretty accurately. I can't stand looking at that smirky former state dept. official -ugh.

[@m1410m3478]

لااله الاالله محمد رسول الله

[@m1410m3478]

الله اكبر الله اكبر

[@ramirambou]

U r very welcome in Tunisia hny

[@TheCarrottop23]

I agree, but to be fair Saudi Arabia is a known U.S. ally in the region.

[@ivanaamidzic]

This discussion is so futile, just got a headache from it.

[@DelJuvePiero]

So dictatorship is to prefer?

[@xybersurfer]

let them clean up their own mess. it's also in the US's best interest. involvement always get misinterpreted. don't give terrorists a reason to hate the US. they will have only themselves to blame for the senseless violence.

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

As for a source about the parallels between the SS and the CIA, I suggest you read NYTimes bestseller 'The Order of the Death's Head, The Story of Hitler's SS'. In particular, chapters 7-8-9 on Heydrich, the RSHA, and the gestapo. The US didn't invent indefinite detention, black ops torture centers and gun control.

[@TalanXL]

what do u mean?

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

The US has the largest military on Earth. T or F?

[@user-cx1mj9gb6m]

There are no terrorists there are people who fight and defend itself, that you think unfairly, I think that the biggest mistake to rely on one we will make ourselves and we will plan,,,, the coming days

[@hoosierhiver]

ever get hit by a loaf of stale bread?, it can hurt.

[@grabthisjoke9797]

al jazeera seems to be very logical news

[@LoLaLola-zz1zn]

Is all about dening Russian/Irani influence in ME, by controling Syria. You like it or not the Cold War never ended.

[@mi6obravoto]

Countries are recognized and presented by their governments.

[@serkelet2]

They are asking for bigger support. Support they already had, but not enough to win, since they are losing.

[@FreedomLover4Ever]

It doesn't matter what the USA does or doesn't do. We are ALWAYS damned if we do and damned if we don't. I can't even believe people are complaining/bitching because we aren't doing anything in Syria.

[@ok29700]

Ae911truth The wheels are coming off the empire for sure

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

The US is not impervious to nuclear weapons, for example. There are always consequences though consequences are not always predictable due to probability.

[@virtuvianTrace]

To your sentiment I agree completely. Especially, in the case of the U. S. government's blind-eye relationship with Israel. It is in the interest of this nation to divest aid and diplomatic support for a nation that has infringed countless numbers of human rights. Use of banned weapons by the Geneva convention such as white phosphorus in combat, human shields, and recently having a state policy of involuntary sterilization of Ethiopian- Israelis. From rouge actors the UN must distance itself.

[@chelelo88]

where is journalist Borat when you need good news coverage

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

It is US foreign policy that dictates what NATO does and US foreign policy is largely formed out of geopolitical-economic interests. NATO members can opt out of SOCOM military adventures. For example, Canada did not send troops to Iraq. However, the head of NATO (a Canadian) served with US forces in Iraq. So US relations with these countries are not the same as other NATO members. There is plenty of blame to go around. However, your original post said that the US should not enter wars on...

[@ukchill1]

referring to AlJazeera 's moderation of the comments, flagging them as spam ( when they aren't advertisements etc) or disabling comments they don't like, even it's just part of the discourse. 5 comment but only 3 of them showing... and in a few hours they will probably remove any ability to comment.

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

The yardstick you asked for could be monetary or technological. And contrary to your claims, they are rather active with this ‘war on terror’ they concocted. So the US is quite atypical in several respects compared to other NATO members. And I already noted what they are capable of (the German case).

[@TheToXic111]

And some of them are misrepresented by their governments.

[@samuelhpardew751]

ALLAH, Syria, Bashar and that's it!

[@sweetregaliz6182]

Do you represent syrian people?

[@sammesamme-nlar2829]

I wonder were these roundtable participants are now considering the way things are turning out for Assad-iran-Russia. They will sure be biting their tongues lol.

[@MrEzombie14]

FSA ftw ... god bless you all FSA members ;) Keep the faith up please

[@JohnstonPettigrew]

The LANCER?,,,,you sure on that one?

[@papakilatube]

The two countries with the highest level of involvement in Syria are Russia and Iran. Assad thanks them in every major speech. Both countries have poured weapons and military advisors into Syria. If anyone is to blame for prolonging this conflict other than the Syrians themselves, one should start with the countries most heavily involved in Syria: Russia and Iran. The US has been and still is a minor player in the Syrian civil war. Saudi Arabia and Turkey have more clout than the US.

[@blackhawkLprince]

what is wrong with the host? How did he even get his job? America does nothing, america is wrong. America does something, America is wrong.

[@drgoodH3rb]

most people that comment in this videos have no idea what is going on....

[@gravelandx88]

Are Russian ground troops involved in helping Assad's army / loyalists defeat rebels? Like the Iranian soldiers are.

[@utoobuber]

13:15 Dr. Cole: the guiding hand doesn't the body make. The point that US actions were piggybacked upon indigenous operations is accurate here as in Operation Ajax in Iran. These nations mush take responsibility for their histories, and perhaps the US hand in the 21st century can be more guided by virtues.

[@TheBossKelso]

if war is money why use it

[@poeticalvision]

everytime we act you say mind your buisness, every time we dont do anything you say we are hypocrites who've abandoned our ideals, its sad that the middle east, aswell as many other places, became a pawn in the squabble btween ussr and the us, and still now it seems abattle for influence btween nato and russia, but if we say "u guys handle it" we get critiqued for it.

[@vilasalazar]

why should the UN intervene in syria? it stood by while Bosnia's innocents were butchered. save yourselves

[@jonathanhanson9977]

@28:43 if it's not possible to topple the Assad regime without Al-Nusra or other Salafists...i.e. ISIS as a US citizen I'd want my government to back Assad I don't care how powerful it makes Iran. Most Iranians are under 40 and hate the Iranian regime anyway. It won't last.

[@kosovir]

+Jonathan Hanson I'm curious, what is your opinion on US backed South American dictators during cold war period, what about Sadam Husein, what about supporting mujaheeds in Afghanistan? thank you

[@Stteella]

Shapka when offered a little finger, take it. The hand was not for grabs!

[@usul573]

Actually it mostly sprang out of horrible drought ruining their livelihood and ineffective government and tensions. Religion plays a part.

[@Mr-NiceGuy05]

Take the dream of Assad's fall to your grave. God bless Alavi

[@supebrain]

thats why u dont see a show of empire like this dedicated to qatar/saudi/bahrain by mr bashara!!!

[@light00128]

Congrats you just won a award, for generalizing every person in the country based on government's actions. You have just won a idiocy award! How do you feel?

[@alonsomaldonado6781]

how about what the people of Syria want??? FROM THE BEGINNING THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT THE SYRIAN PEOPLE WANT???

[@AkiraBergman]

AJ, you conveniently forget your own complicity in the escalation. I remember clearly your propaganda of the Sunni mercenaries being sent to Syria by some Arab states.

[@Goronsquad]

they already involved.

[@droolglop1110]

This GUY has horrible ENUNCIATION, can't WATCH without PREDICTING which WORD he will stress NEXT

[@draoi99]

Israel wants Assad to stay. He's been a good neighbour. This is why the US is all talk an no action.

[@jackooboy1]

Hahaha... do you really think the CIA isn't supporting or playing both sides?

[@moh10ly]

don't argue with ignorant, no matter how this will go.. he'll consider him self a winner.

[@kendrat199]

I really wish comments were disabled. You can't even have a civil debate on youtube because of the amount of hate mongers and trolls present on the thread.

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

The US is the largest government on Earth. T or F?

[@DSNCB919]

which ever fate makes the US and its citizens stronger is the outcome I want

[@ck1freedom]

We the american people need to take a long hard at our military objectives, we must not force our governmental ideals on the world. Lord knows we have been asleep for to long now. We as not so free individuals should look at syria because our regime has betreyed us. Placing the american people in harms way.

[@DeborahJBoyd]

Why do people in Syria that are sheep and goat herders need college education??? Because we live in a world that demands it and these people who are simple 1 person farmers need to come into the current time and that means they need to get together as a group and pool their resources in order to make a livable wage. It helps no farmer to have Syria led by a dictator that kills many of the same people living in his country and now has managed to get Russia to engage in thwarting any effort of a change in government. Assad's father was a ruthless killer and Assad, with help from his Uncles, is following in his father's image. A few elites lived well while others were exploited and not provided with modern tools required to survive in the modern world. Attempts to keep a country in a system that worked 500 or more years ago will not work today.

[@avikazak655]

As a Syrian i wish i was aborted Is death too much to ask for for.?

[@ShelliKittens]

You sound so reasonable. A huge part of the problem is the type of remarks like your own. Fuck all of us huh? Because you're so.. ? What? What is so RIGHT about you?

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

(cont.) ... the pretext of morality and assert what is obvious - that the wars are entered into out of selfish interest. In this capacity the US, with the largest military and intelligence agency in the world, poses a problem. US interests become world interests. Wars become business. That is why there is a difference between the US's relationship to war and other NATO members. It isn't Canada's economy driving towards war in Iraq. It is the US's economy. Like I said, Canada backed out of the...

[@boradley8506]

Had to stop watchin as I couldn't stand Mr Pollock

[@MrCamronsad1]

And you expect this corrupt news channel to do it - I feel very ashamed to mention that i'm a Sunni Muslim.

[@MrBrimstoneTitan]

(cont.) ...Iraq war. My position is not hypocritical; it is consistent. I want Canada out of NATO, now. But I recognize that the heart of the problem is international banking and the military industrial complex that forms US foreign policy - those "interests" you unapologetically support. Tell me, who should I be more afraid of, the CIA or the Afghanistan Taliban? I think the answer is clear. That is why the US must be stopped immediately. Revolt is the consequence of unbridled government.

[@dhockey63]

What the fuck did i just read?

[@steve5123456789]

There not the only people who believe in the moon. Some african tribes believe it's like an egg shell. You think it's probably just a rock you should listen to what david icke says about it.

[@light00128]

Government is a system which manages society. Democracy is a form of government managed by elected representatives. Representatives are voted-in by majority of population, that doesn't mean they represent all of population. Government is not reflection of people, but ruling body of society. Its not like all North Korea society wanted to be represented by totalitarian regime, ruling class did. Same goes for Syria. The logic you made is flawed... just saying. Government does not equal people.

[@robcarlos3005]

This world is so fck up we as humans are still children in the eyes of those who have evolve and see the truth and know the truth in their heart am surprice we have gone this far,but not for long one day theres goin to be an idiot that will push that red button and fck this planet up so bad that it will be our own doomed...

[@MatrixOfDynamism]

West owns the Arabs, sorry I meant USA literally owns these Arabs as pets. Not just them other governments like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan also! Now if they don't work to protect these governments than USA will face hardships in politics. So USA (government) just ignores the whole concept of right/wrong, UN charter, public opinion and just does what it likes when it likes and where it likes. I was quite shocked to know that USA held a coup of a democratic government in Iran in 1952!

[@jackspecht2897]

It is not silence that is so bias an attempt to manipulate america, we are America, we are not syria, it is none of our bussines