The Wright Show Reassembling Syria (Robert Wright & Joshua Landis)
Dec 12, 2024
Joshua Landis, a Professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, dives into Syria's turbulent political future. He discusses whether the Islamist rebel group HTS has moderated over time and analyzes the intense retributive violence since Assad's regime began to crumble. The conversation also covers the nation's complex factional divides and the contentious role of America in controlling Syrian oil fields. Landis provides insights into the evolving dynamics among rebel groups and the broader implications for regional stability.
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Syria's Uncertain Future
- Reassembling Syria is complex, given power alignments, factional divides, and foreign involvement.
- The question is whether a unified control is possible or if partitions are more realistic.
Centralization vs. Partition
- Syria's major cities, located along a main highway, are key to consolidating power.
- The Kurdish region, backed by the U.S., complicates unification due to its resources and autonomy.
Factors in Regime Change
- The fall of the Assad regime was influenced by various factors, including loss of resources.
- U.S. occupation, Kurdish control, sanctions, and shifts in regional power dynamics played a role.