The Syria we once knew is gone

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WikiLeaks

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US Secretary of State John Kerry in leaked audio on anti-Assad forces: “we’ve been putting an extraordinary amount of arms in… Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, huge amount of weapons coming in, huge amount of money…” (Sep 2016)

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12:32 am · 9 Dec 2024

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Kevork Almassian

@KevorkAlmassian

It’s very hard to talk about what has happened in Syria from 2011 until today, especially over the past two weeks. But I feel the need to express my thoughts and emotions. The Syria we once knew is gone, and the sooner we come to terms with this reality, the better. Whether the situation improves or worsens is uncertain—it will only become clear with time, whether in months or years. People have always been divided about Bashar al-Assad. Some loved him, others hated him. For me, the core issue was about Syria itself: its sovereignty, unity, and role in the region. That was what mattered most to me. This is why I criticized the opposition and armed groups that relied on external funding and support. For me, the issue was not just about the regime; it was about Syria as a whole. Any country that compromises its foundational principles will eventually collapse, and I feared that this was exactly what we were witnessing. What upset me the most was seeing the opposition call for harsher sanctions, fully aware that these would only worsen the suffering of ordinary people. To me, this behaviour was unacceptable, as if they were willing to destroy the country just to seize power. Perhaps this is what led many to continue supporting Assad—not because they were blind to his flaws, but because they saw him as a symbol against foreign intervention and the fragmentation of Syria. But today, after all the sacrifices, and after witnessing the surrender of one city after another, it has become clear that Syria was forced into a deal far greater than it could handle. This means that Assad not only failed to protect Syria from foreign intervention but also abandoned the country to darkness and betrayed everyone who believed in him. For those who stood by him, enduring death, siege, sanctions, and unimaginable suffering, his capitulation wasn’t just a betrayal—it was a humiliation. If he was going to concede in such a degrading manner, it would have been better to pursue a reasonable settlement earlier, perhaps during Davutoğlu’s visit to Damascus in June 2011. Now, since some consider me an opponent of the upcoming political system, I want to clarify one thing: I will not be an opponent. My loyalty lies with Syria and its people, not with any faction or ideology. I will not oppose for the sake of opposition, nor will I be an obstacle or a dissenting voice against rebuilding the country, helping people recover, and reconstructing the state. My writings and opinions have always been aimed at serving the interests of the people, not undermining them. To those who supported the revolution, I hope they have learned from what happened in Iraq and Libya. Foreign powers do not care about our well-being; their support always comes with a price. This is why many opposed the revolutionary project—because they saw the hidden agendas behind such support. In the new Syria, we must preserve the country’s institutions and safeguard our national resources. We must avoid falling into the trap of foreign aid and loans that come with concealed political conditions. If Syria manages its resources wisely, it can rebuild itself without sacrificing its sovereignty. This is all I wish for Syria and its people. We must learn from our mistakes and failures, grow, and mature as a nation. My heart breaks for all that we’ve lost, but my faith in the resilience and recovery of the Syrian people remains steadfast.

5:15 am · 9 Dec 2024

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