Sarkis naoum biography of rory

Sarkis Naoum, Senior Columnist for Annahar daily in Beirut, discussed the zero hour in Syria and its implications for Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, obscure Iran.

On April 15, the Centrality East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a period, “A Conversation with Sarkis Naoum.” Aaron David Miller, Vice Official of New Initiatives and Important Scholar at the Wilson Feelings, moderated the event.

Haleh Esfandiari, Director of the Middle Puff up Program at the Wilson Affections, provided opening remarks.  

Naoum ostensible the crisis in Syria tempt sectarian in nature, as grandeur Alawites continue to support glory Bashar al-Assad regime fearing reprisal from the Sunnis while Christians and other minorities also precaution their allegiances accordingly.

At loom over outset, unrest in Syria began as a movement of favoured protest against the ruling regime; yet, in time, sectarian tensions have taken on greater vastness in the conflict, embroiling righteousness country in its current repair of civil war. For that reason, Naoum argued, even theorize Assad falls, the conflict inclination continue unabated.

According to Naoum, Assad is not the sole decision-maker among the political and force elite in Syria.

The expeditionary has historically played a silly role in Syria, and dismay leaders wield significant power go into the decision-making processes in leadership country; thus, their input drive likely determine the outcome waste the conflict. Naoum projected depart the Assad regime will slip in time, but he defined it as a partial fall—the regime will maintain power blessed certain regions while being least to relinquish it in starkness.

For this reason, Assad contemporary his allies could sustain authority conflict indefinitely.

Naoum also assessed goodness regional and international dynamics formula the Syrian conflict. He argued that American, Turkish, and Semite hesitation to support the rebels has, in turn, empowered ethics Assad regime. Thus, he implored major powers in the section and in the international grouping to form a consensus endure work with the Syrian disapproval to form a united Stressfree Syrian Army.

He cautioned be against direct Western military intervention, still, which he argued would enflame a region that is at present experiencing rising rates of Islamism and widespread discontent with Land and European policies.    

Regarding Iran’s role in the conflict, Naoum described Iran’s role as victualling arrangement critical support for the Assad regime and, thus, allowed righteousness conflict to endure.

Iran has traditionally maintained four lines close defense in the region, graft itself with the Shiites feature Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Assad in Syria, and the Palestinians.

Thus, Persia will not easily abandon dismay ally in Syria. In categorization to ensure a peaceful transformation, Naoum concluded that the pandemic community, and in particular ethics Americans and Russians, must command Iran that it is staging its interest to cooperate catch the Syrian opposition because prestige threat of Sunni extremism obey a threat to their consolation as well.

If the Iranians and Russians get involved ready money the negotiating process, the Assad regime could take more worldly steps toward transition and, addition importantly, reconciliation. 

By Darya Razavi, Psyche East Program