Thank you, Makdisis: yet another great discussion - I appreciate them very much. Just one slightly frustrating thing, for me, and that is that I wish you had asked him directly about US and Israeli connections to / support for / backing of HTS and its antecedents. Because this question is 'The Big One', isn't it? To what extent have these forces been supported, guided, enabled by the US & Israel? That feels like a bit of an omission to me.
A part of that "bit of an ommision" (and only a part) is called Timber Sycamore. A "bit of an ommision" consisting in CIA spending one billion dollars per year in foreign yihadists since 2011.
No? If Turkey controls them, which it does, and it is a member of nato, which it is, and the other financial backer is Qatar, an ally of the US, then Israel and the US can support these forces indirectly without ever getting their hands dirty with direct support, and Turkey and Qatar would never expose them.. so realistically, how could you know, and why is this alignment in doubt, or you want evidence of direct support?
Thank you all for this in-depth, wide-ranging discussion. A follow-up discussion with Dr Dahi after March 1 would be most appreciated as some of the dust will probably have settled by then.
Good details provided by the professor however contradictory at times e.g talking about Imperialism while calling for “sovereignty” ,implicitly, by peaceful means. He is for greater Syria but never once mentioned Palestine when discussing Iran in Syria. He said the resistance was decimated which is inaccurate and frankly points to lack of understanding of the philosophy of resistance and the history of national liberation movements including the Syrian people struggle against colonialism. To say “well” Syria was occupied during Assad! Yes but he did not give it to them. In the end the professor as an academic in a western institution will view the world from his own class position. I will finish the last twenty minutes but do have a couple of grains of salt handy.
This Carnegie Endowment affiliated economist is contradictory throughout. Not addressing the geopolitical set up and avoiding US devastating sanctions and occupation of Syria -- and Israel. Covering his US ideological and material bases and underestimating the sectarianism question. I disagree it was thought provoking. It illustrates the state of middle east studies in the west. Exactly, how can you have sovereignty without resistance?
32:50 this is false. Oil (Rasafa oil field) and gas (the largest, Sha’er, is in TADMUR/PALMYRA!) producing regions of Syria are NOT located exclusively in the northeast. I guess SDF now controls the area of Rasafa? And the Amerikkkan aggression has also taken the region of Palmyra. But before Dec 8, it (the oil and the gas fields I mentioned) WAS under government control! Regions relevant to the petro-economy of Syria (refineries, generators) are even more so not located exclusively in the northeast. I wish people would stop claiming this.
For example the baniyas refinery has been in the news a lot. That’s obviously not in the northwest. Was the question about only oil, meaning to exclude gas? In that case sha’er may be less relevant, but that would be a strange sort of question.
it's so refreshing to have for non Arabic speakers such quality of analysis, thank you gents
Thank you, Makdisis: yet another great discussion - I appreciate them very much. Just one slightly frustrating thing, for me, and that is that I wish you had asked him directly about US and Israeli connections to / support for / backing of HTS and its antecedents.
Because this question is 'The Big One', isn't it? To what extent have these forces been supported, guided, enabled by the US & Israel? That feels like a bit of an omission to me.
A part of that "bit of an ommision" (and only a part) is called Timber Sycamore. A "bit of an ommision" consisting in CIA spending one billion dollars per year in foreign yihadists since 2011.
No? If Turkey controls them, which it does, and it is a member of nato, which it is, and the other financial backer is Qatar, an ally of the US, then Israel and the US can support these forces indirectly without ever getting their hands dirty with direct support, and Turkey and Qatar would never expose them.. so realistically, how could you know, and why is this alignment in doubt, or you want evidence of direct support?
"Timber Sycamore" for example?
Merci. Really appreciate hearing from someone working towards a positive future for the Syrian people. A lot to think about.
Finally, a complete overview of the situation. Thank you so very much.
Thank you all for this in-depth, wide-ranging discussion. A follow-up discussion with Dr Dahi after March 1 would be most appreciated as some of the dust will probably have settled by then.
who has been funding HTS for all these years? As Assad recently found out, armies don't fight for free.
Good details provided by the professor however contradictory at times e.g talking about Imperialism while calling for “sovereignty” ,implicitly, by peaceful means. He is for greater Syria but never once mentioned Palestine when discussing Iran in Syria. He said the resistance was decimated which is inaccurate and frankly points to lack of understanding of the philosophy of resistance and the history of national liberation movements including the Syrian people struggle against colonialism. To say “well” Syria was occupied during Assad! Yes but he did not give it to them. In the end the professor as an academic in a western institution will view the world from his own class position. I will finish the last twenty minutes but do have a couple of grains of salt handy.
Yeah I agree I had the same apprehension
stand with Palestine.
This Carnegie Endowment affiliated economist is contradictory throughout. Not addressing the geopolitical set up and avoiding US devastating sanctions and occupation of Syria -- and Israel. Covering his US ideological and material bases and underestimating the sectarianism question. I disagree it was thought provoking. It illustrates the state of middle east studies in the west. Exactly, how can you have sovereignty without resistance?
🌟Honesty in a dishonest media world. Keep up the good work Makdisi brothers.
32:50 this is false. Oil (Rasafa oil field) and gas (the largest, Sha’er, is in TADMUR/PALMYRA!) producing regions of Syria are NOT located exclusively in the northeast. I guess SDF now controls the area of Rasafa? And the Amerikkkan aggression has also taken the region of Palmyra. But before Dec 8, it (the oil and the gas fields I mentioned) WAS under government control!
Regions relevant to the petro-economy of Syria (refineries, generators) are even more so not located exclusively in the northeast. I wish people would stop claiming this.
33:48 I find it strange that this expert did not point out the incorrect statement which the host made.
For example the baniyas refinery has been in the news a lot. That’s obviously not in the northwest. Was the question about only oil, meaning to exclude gas? In that case sha’er may be less relevant, but that would be a strange sort of question.
There are also a lot of gas fields off the coast of Latakia
Love the Zionist poster on the wall ❤