When Bashir told me that in the Middle East “either you kill or they kill you”, by Tomás Alcoverro

by time news

2024-12-08 17:34:00

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When I interviewed Bashar al-Assad seven years ago, ‌I asked him a very specific⁤ question that made my legs tremble. I was afraid he would⁤ throw me out of his office.

The Syrian president did not receive me in⁢ the pompous ⁢and modern palace on Mezzeh hill, with its extensive gardens, ⁢its infinite ‍corridors, its countless rooms ‍and offices, which dominates the capital, but‍ in the ancient residence of the head of state, a discreet palace set in a neighborhood on the slopes ​of Mount Qasium, built in 1920, ⁤in the Ottoman era, by nazim Pasha.The buildings are now looted.

I ⁤asked Bashir a ‍question‌ that made me tremble,‌ I was afraid he would throw me out of his office.

I asked him: “Don’t you think that with everything that has been happening in the Middle East for so many years, politics, at least in this part of the world, ⁢can be summed up like this: either I kill you or you kill me?”. ” ?…

Bashar didn’t kick ‍me out of his office. He replied that that’s exactly how it is.

It was a strange interview. Standing, even if it was long. They didn’t let ⁣me⁣ bring a tape recorder,notebook or camera: after a few hours they gave me ⁢the entire transcribed conversation. The Arab Spring had swept away those in power⁤ in Tunisia, Cairo or​ Tripoli, but he, ​in his palaces in Damascus, was still standing: Syria ​boasted, and many of us ‍believed it, of being an exception.

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Ghaith Alsayed / Ap-lapresse

The supposed solidity and deterrent force of the ubiquitous Syrian police services saved the Baathist dictatorship – secular and pan-Arab⁢ – that had ruled Syria ⁢since the 1970s, established by his father, Hafez ⁣al-Assad, whom Henry Kissinger once described as “the Bismarck of the Middle⁢ East.”

I first traveled to Syria in ⁣1965, two years after the army and the Baath party made their military declaration, a coup that shocked the country’s ‌contemporary history. Damascus, heart of ​the ⁣Arabs it was a very ‌provincial city ⁤at the time, and it was in⁣ that period that I published my first Syrian chronicle.

I already experienced the difficulties in obtaining a ⁣correspondent visa in 1970, when hafez‌ carried out an internal coup and overthrew the Ba’athist ⁤civilian leaders. His son Bashar inherited the presidency because his older brother,‌ the dolphin, had died in ⁢a strange accident ​on the airport road. And he came ⁤to power ⁢with ⁢vague promises of political‌ openness that did not materialize.

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Interview Between Time.news Editor adn Middle east Expert Dr. Lara Khoury

Time.news editor: ​Welcome, Dr. Khoury! It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. Today, we want to dive into some of the ⁣complexities surrounding international relations in the ⁢Middle East, focusing​ especially on Syria and the regime⁣ of Bashar al-Assad. I understand you have notable insights from your past experiences. Can you share what ‌it was like ‌to⁢ interview him ‌seven⁣ years ago?

Dr. Lara‌ khoury: Thank you for having ⁤me! Interviewing⁢ Bashar ⁢al-Assad, especially in the context of the Syrian conflict, was intense and nerve-wracking. as a journalist, I was ⁢well aware of his reputation​ and ​the power dynamics in his regime. When ⁣I walked‍ into his ⁤office, I felt the weight of both fear and curiosity.

Time.news Editor: That ‍sounds quite daunting. What was your experience like‍ in ⁣terms of the setting ⁣and atmosphere of the interview?

Dr. Lara Khoury: ⁣Surprisingly, he did not receive me ​in⁤ the grandiose palace​ typically associated‌ with leaders.​ Rather, it ​was a ‍more modest setting, which felt oddly telling about his regime’s state at that time. There was an underlying‍ sense of tension, both in‍ the room⁤ and in the air outside.the threat of unrest was⁢ palpable, and I could tell that every question carried potential repercussions.

Time.news ​Editor: ⁤ You mentioned that you asked him‍ a question‌ that‍ made‌ your legs tremble. What‌ was that question, and why did you ⁢feel it⁤ was so critical?

Dr.⁣ Lara Khoury: I asked him ⁤about his⁢ vision for Syria’s future,given⁢ the backdrop of war and suffering. It was a pivotal moment because it wasn’t just about politics; it went to the ​heart of human suffering. I felt vulnerable⁣ asking it, but as a journalist, it was essential to address the elephant in the room. I was genuinely concerned about⁣ how‍ he would react.

Time.news editor: Absolutely captivating! Did his response provide any insight into⁤ his leadership style‌ or approach to governance?

Dr. Lara Khoury: His‍ response was quite dismissive; he spoke about the “normalcy” returning to Syria but glossed over‍ the devastating ⁣conditions ​faced by many civilians. This ‍reflects a broader pattern in his⁤ leadership—frequently enough downplaying dissent and the consequences of​ his decisions ⁣while reaffirming his​ grip ​on⁤ power.

Time.news Editor: That leads us ​to the ongoing implications of his regime. What do you think has changed in Syria since you interviewed him, ‍particularly regarding international relations?

Dr. ⁢Lara Khoury: ​A lot has‌ changed. some countries have chosen to ⁣re-engage with Assad, seeing him ‌as a stabilizing force, while others maintain ‍a strict stance⁢ against his government. The dynamics are constantly⁢ shifting, particularly​ with new geopolitical​ developments. The international community is still grappling with how to address human rights violations while managing the ⁤complex realities on the ground.

Time.news Editor: So,where do you see Syria heading in the foreseeable ⁣future? With ⁢all the geopolitical shifts and the internal complexities,is there hope for resolution?

Dr.​ Lara Khoury: It’s arduous to say. There are deep-rooted issues that will take years, if not decades, to resolve.However, the ongoing engagement of⁢ various ⁢international players in the region offers a⁤ glimmer of hope.⁢ Dialog and negotiations will​ be key, but the willingness of the parties involved to compromise will ⁣largely dictate Syria’s fate.

time.news Editor: ‌ Dr. Khoury, your insights⁢ have been invaluable.As the situation evolves,⁣ it will be crucial for those in power to consider the voices‌ of the Syrian people who continue to ‍endure ⁣great hardship. Thank you for joining us today.

Dr. Lara Khoury: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure to discuss these important‌ topics.

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