Assad's downfall: What are Syria's chances for democracy and lasting peace? | To The Point

The end came pretty fast - after 14 years of civil war, the Syrian rebels of HTS and their allies deposed the hated dictator Assad after a lightning campaign. For five decades, the Assad family ruled Syria with the iron fist of dictatorship. Torture, random executions, a brutal secret service. Millions fled, and nearly half of Syrians had to find refuge elsewhere. Ahmed el-Scharra is the face of the victory. A former al-Qaida terrorist turned celebrated liberator. Can he unify a country that has been a pawn of the region's power players like Turkey, Iran, or even Russia, for decades? We are asking: After Assad's downfall: can Syria be reborn?

Our guests:
Kristin Helberg, a journalist and expert on Syria and the Middle East
Maissun Melhem, my DW colleague, journalist from Syria
Ali Fathollah-Nejad, a German-Iranian political scientist, and Director of the Center for Middle East and Global Order

Chapters:
00:00 The fall of the Assad regime: a historic night and a moment of euphoria in Syria
03:00 Nobody saw this coming, the Assad regime dissolved itself
04:00 A consequence of geopolitical circumstances
05:15 Iran’s weakness is one reason for Assad’s decline
06:20 A great chance to rebuild Syria
07:30 VIDEO: Which kind of state does HTS want?
08:45 Al Sharaa built up a government in Idlib, broke with Al-Qaida in the past
09:40 Al Sharaa sent moderate signals to almost everybody in Syria, good PR
10:10 Al Sharaa could be a real politician in the future, he is able to transform the country
11:10 He appears to be a moderate, he invites the West
11:50 Iran is the big loser
12:20 HTS still is an Islamic movement
12:50 Al Sharaa must keep radicals inside HTS under control
13:30 Women are worried about the future
14:10 HTS will have to cooperate with other influential groups
14:30 The West has to support democracy, and an inclusive government
15:10 Germany will be influential, a lot of Syrians live here
16:00 A huge need for more international money
16:50 Justice will be very important; the leadership must be held responsible
17:30 Syria needs a ‘Marshal-Plan’
19:30 The West didn’t foresee the development, lessons are to be learned
21:10 Turkey has a negative role in the whole transition process
22:20 Iran is shocked and confused, it’s a huge defeat for Iran
23:50 Israel will probably not withdraw from annexed territory in Syria
24:50 Syria is on the right track
25:10 There is justified hope that developments in Syria will be peaceful

#Syria #HTS #ToThePoint

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[iqbalahmed]

It was a great round table discussion- all the panelists were practical and the discussion was fact based, not biased. We want to see similar round table in future. Thanks

[TRYT-ve]

Kurds are the brightest in Syria.

Only they have presented a working system for a future Syria which Assad said no to.

Democratic votings,
citizenship for all Kurds,
Federalism within Syria.

[psnaris]

Syria's chances for democracy and lasting peace? Virtually nil.

[wdp]

With so many factions in the country, chances for democratically is as good as that in Iraq and Libya.

[yanyu]

the most objective reporting among youtube channels. keep up DW!

[NgeNgoc]

Not in a million years if this planet lasts that long.

[MGWohl]

I find it amazing that those who are calling for the International Criminal Court to try B. Netanyahu for war crimes remain silent on the matter of holding Assad accountable for all the crimes he committed against his people. Me thinks there is more than just a bit of hypocrisy involved here.

[JamesBarber-cudz]

Syrian culture does not have the values needed to support democracy. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But to expect a political system essentially embodying western ideals is naive. Indeed, even in the West, democracy is under attack.

[theuntouchable]

Syrians have a lot to be thankful for to Israel and Ukraine.

[TheVeritas]

***What are Syria's chances for democracy and lasting peace? *** = ZERO! 😞

[eddieokpara]

When the Shah of Iran, the U.S. dictator was deposed, the revolution was not this celebrated by Western media.
On the contrary, the toppling of Ghaddafi by the West was celebrated, but Libya is far worse today.

[vladnickul]

They have chances... sure they have.
but its not likely they will forget fanatic religion and ultra corruption...

[shanegreenslade]

The West should show Syria that we want to help them to start again, to build a future of peace and healing that they desperately need.

[elementelement]

Having watched so many of these discussion over many platform and channels, finally one that spends a few minutes talking about the destabilising nature of the Turkish state in their attack of Kurds in Syria.

[Dave-mywe]

What are Syria’s chances for democracy? If the history of the Middle East over last 50-years guides our thoughts then the answer is “nearly zero.”

[AZRidgway]

Question to Maissun, if you are so jubilent, are you ready to go and live in Syria now? Don't forget your full-body veil, you will need it there pretty soon...

[yokartik]

why no one talk about israeli occupation in southern syria? why always turkey to blame? don't you think its funny?

[alexmost]

Your German contributer misspoke. Israel did not build a new buffer zone, the buffer zone already existed per agreement, and when Syria abandoned their positions on the othet side of the buffer, Israel swooped into the positions to keep them manned. Its a huge difference.

[jakesdejager]

The world failed the Syrian people, it is now time for the world to assist Syria on their road to peace, reconciliation and reconstruction,
Best wishes to the people of Syria

[Till_Brandt]

Thanks a lot for this conversation full of information!