The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS | Sebastian Junger | Talks at Google

Sebastian Junger visits Google to go into details of the exploration that he and Nick Quested experienced with the complexities of the war in Syria and Iraq. As they gain access to clandestine organizations, they offer a look at one of the most serious threats faced by the Western world. They chronicle Syria's descent into the unbridled chaos that allowed the rise of the Islamic State, better known as ISIS, and cover the catastrophe from multiple angles.

Moderated by Jordan Thibodeau.

[ammardarwish]

As a Syrian, who still lives in syria, in Damascus actually.

I am from a town called Al_Zabadani I changed 2 houses till now, I spent 3 months in a hot area being shelled by tanks, and all kind of heavy weaponry.
I was shot at twice.
So I suffered, alot!

I am not protecting Assad, his regime could prevented all this.
But the Islamic terrorists that Assad released were actually politically arrested, and the rebels wanted them released!

And, the best option to Syria right now is to actually keep Assad,
It got better now, people have more freedom question the actions of the government and it is actually moving forward.
now in Damascus, it's so good, women have more freedom under the government's control than under any other regime's.
Youths now have more voice, we can actually make some changes.
We are working for more secular laws and society.
There are many secular and feminism movements, and it is so beautiful now.
the terrorists in my home town surrendered to the government and were deported to Edlib.
Now my town is being rebuilt with help from the syrian government...
There is not a Civil war Sunni and Shia and Alwaite are friends in the army together, its a fight now between a secular more free Syria and ISIS and Islamic extremism.

The revolution was vital at first in order to fix corruption (even though we were moving forward and we are on the way to become an industrial country, we even had a car factory), and the government responded and fixed so many issues but the revolution didn't stop!
I participated in the protest in Al_Zabadani, and let me tell you it was only the two week of the protest, the army didn't even attack Al_Zabadani, I saw RBGs, Machine guns, bombs, hand grenades in the protest held by fighters!

Anyway, I lived under the FSA, ISIS, and even independent regime, but there is nothing better than Assad right now.

And just so everybody knows, the start of the revolution wasn't actually in Dara'a, 6 monthes before Dara'a, in Damascus a cop hit a taxi driver and some people protested and the minister did actually apologize but yeah, Dara'a had the most coverage (and yes, the police could have responded better and prevent this).

Some media needs to focus on the areas controlled by the government and see how beautiful it is!
It's not so "hell" as many thinks!

and finally, Excuse my poor English, it's not my mother Language after all.

[ClodiusP]

Great interviewee, great subject. Sound levels are horrible. Come on Google!

[chadgreenwell]

What a great non partisan heroic war reporter. Thanks for your time risking ur life to tell the hard Truth. R.I.P. TIM HETHERINGTON ✌️

[HailLuzifer]

why don't these refugees go to the rich arab countries? saudi arabia etc. why should they go to Europe?

[Minuz]

Nobody is interested in Afganistan?
80% of the opium production in the world.
It's a lawless state with a very lucrative produce, which happends to be illegal.
Smart of you stopping half way into that comment.