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.
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.
The Middle East has winters and summers. But not the springs.
What are the key challenges facing Syria’s future after ongoing military conflicts?
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.