I'm not one of those knowledge off the top of my head type guys. I'm more of a Captain Google tbh. Wikipedia the Assad dynasty in Syria and you could easily go into the wee hours. Get your brandy snifter. Bashar al-Assad during his earlier life actually graduated medical school and then went to London to train to be an eye doctor but was recalled back to Syria after his older brother died in a car crash and he then became heir-apparent to the regime....military academy...Syrian occupation of Lebanon...Arab Spring...Syrian Civil War...war crimes...human rights violations...chemical weapons...the UN, Obama, Trump. Turkey's Erdogan later became a kind of foe and worked behind the scenes...LOTS to go through. Bashar al-Assad has now been ousted as we all know by rebel forces and the head of HTS an al-Qaida offshoot is practically running the new government. Turkey is heavily involved and the new HTS-led Syrian government is trying to moderate its image. Putin has granted al-Assad and his family political asylum in Moscow. He may have brought a bag of gold coins with him. He always wore nice suits and believed in climate change and even recognized the State of Israel in private. Otherwise a brutal dictator.
There I've done my homework. Trying to give this blog some heft.
Pretty good summary. Z-Man geopolitical analyst. Any idea of why
ReplyDeleteTulsi Gabbard admires him?
She does? I'm not up to speed. Maybe it's his suit collection. Where's he shop Men's Wearhouse?
ReplyDeleteSo Assad was against 9-11 and even worked with the CIA in providing intelligence which exceeded their expectations.
ReplyDeleteTulsi. Assad was training in London to become an ophthalmologist. Did he make a deal with her for free prescription eyewear if she ever needs it?
Assad is 6'2", a little less than my son. Whose wife is f'1" LIke RFKjr, she is a Dem turncoat. May we term her the Liz Cheney lady? As for the remains of Syria, the Levant has been with war with itself ever
ReplyDeletesince Joshua, and presumably until the singularity, turning out new
TV journalists wearing press flak jackets and hanging out with Kurds.
I think with people like Tulsi they see Assad as a kind of rational dictator. Sure he has his evil quirks (torturing intellectuals and dissidents, chemical weapons attacks) but you can work with him. Least that's the way they see it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as being a geo-affairs analyst I could be on the Newshour and I'd be looking at my smartphone under the table. "So yeah Margaret as I was saying...errr..."
ReplyDeleteRE: government spending Trump/Musk vs GOP legislators. I suspect the Trump/Musk thing won't last long - White House not big enough for two super egos. Musk said if they voted for it, he would fund any primary against them when the time came. Trump said me too. Pardon my Diddy, but what's going on?
ReplyDeleteKind of interesting a dictator who graduated medical school. He can either have you killed or tell you what's wrong with you.
ReplyDeleteCombine the Trump and Musk super egos and you can have a new source of energy.
ReplyDeleteI thought they were supposed to arrest Netanyahu. Hardly anyone ever talks about this. Can he speak at the UN? Can he address Congress? The ICC issues paper warrants and nothing ever happens.
ReplyDeleteBibi has enough legal problems in Israel. Trial for corruption, etc. He was supposed to testify for the 3rd time, but it was cancelled because he is conducting a 7 front war. (not sure how many in the back)
ReplyDeleteIsrael never seems to run out of ammunition and missiles. Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran. What does he do to unwind at the end of the day?
ReplyDeleteThe Rules of War. You have to follow them. The Rules of War always struck me as a classic oxymoron, George Carlin material. You can kill people but you have to do it the right way. There ARE rules.
ReplyDeleteI guess Wm Sherman wasn't aware = "War is Hell", "the only good Indian is a dead Indian."
DeleteBashar and his wife Asma are probably doing a little shopping in Moscow and dining with Putin. I know I know enough of the Middle East. Get back to the Drone situation?
ReplyDeleteWhat's up with CNN?
ReplyDeleteFill me in
DeleteThe well-groomed and well-manicured Syrian prisoner
DeleteWow. I watched that. Clarissa Ward, started at Fox, worked for several networks, Peabody award and 7 Emmys. Fluent in English, French, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Spanish and Chinese. Fool her once-----
DeleteAs an aside Bashar al-Assad is fluent in English and conversational in French. Graduated medical school and was an Army doctor. An educated dictator. What went wrong?
DeleteEmbarrassing story for CNN. Did they forget Basic Journalism 101?
Luigi Mangione, CEO healthcare killer. Sounds like a major league shortstop. I need a script here
ReplyDeleteOr a contractor.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little kid, all we had was a radio. A time of youthful tranquility. "Stay tuned for Little Orphan Annie and Straight Arrow and be sure to drink your Ovaltine.
ReplyDeleteThen came Ed Sullivan. Nurse Nancy thinks he had a back problem.
ReplyDeleteEd was one of a kind, - " Right here on our stage-Robert Gullet (Goulet)".
ReplyDeleteBuddy Holly and Bob Dylan, refused to come back. Black/White TV sort of muted the earlier shows like The Hit Parade. Dave Garroway, Steve Allen, Arthur Godfrey - archival stuff now.
I see on NPR Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen's capital. How many wars we got going on here?
ReplyDelete