It is difficult to describe just the unbelievable amount of destruction that Syria has gone through… since 2011.
WAR ROOM welcomes Dean of the U.S. Air War College Christopher Hemmer to the studio to explain the historical and present-day contexts of the on-going civil war in Syria. With possibly over 500,000 killed and untold destruction, it is easily one of the bloodiest wars in recent times. What are the factors fueling the war? Why has it drawn so much international attention? What can be done to stop it? These and many other questions are addressed with the assistance of WAR ROOM podcast editor and Professor of Strategy Jacqueline E. Whitt.
You can also download a copy of the podcast here.
Christopher Hemmer is Dean of the U.S. Air War College and expert on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, Air War College, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, or the Department of Defense.
Photo: A veteran Syrian Democratic Forces soldier teaches a group of recruits about improvised explosive devices in Northern Syria on Oct. 10, 2017.
Photo Credit: Staff Sergeant Richard Lutz/US Army
The U.S. has never really understood Syria and its relationship with the USSR/Russia. For years, the two countries had a close relationship, with Syria obtaining modern weapons.
Turkey turned a blind eye to the ISIS’ dealings between its border and Syria because certain families were making money and they knew the U.S. and NATO would do nothing (just like they did nothing about the patently illegal invasion of Cyprus).
The CIA has tried to “do things” in Syria for years and never did very well. Spending millions of dollars, they couldn’t introduce their own anti-Assad groups into the battlefield.