"Look How Credible USA Is!"

Map of Syria

Unless you have been in a coma, you have heard the President and Secretary of State John Kerry present their case for a limited strike against President Bashar al-Assad and his administration in Syria. This is in response to a purported Chemical Weapon (CW) attack by the al-Assad regime on innocent civilians. Many Americans, as well as people around the world have a lot of questions.

(1)   Where is Syria?

(2)   Why were the civilians killed?

(3)   Who killed them

(4)   Were chemical weapons used?

(5)   What started “this”?

(6)   Who is al-Assad fighting?

(7)   What should the US and world do?

Before we can answer those questions, we need a short primer on (1) Islam (2) Middle East countries and location (3) Key groups or factions (4) Militia groups.

First, a few simple but important facts:

(1)   Muslim is NOT a race. It is the name given to those that practice Islam.

(2)   Not all Muslims are Arabs.

(3)   Not all Arabs are Muslims.

The Beginning

The saga begins nearly 6,000 years ago. God promised Abram that he would make him “the father of a great nation”. Abram (exalted Father) later renamed Abraham (Father of many) and his wife Sarai (little princess) later renamed Sarah (princess or noblewoman) were old and did not have any children but God had promised he would be the father of many people. [His nephew was captured and taken prisoner along with his entire household. Abram made chase, then caught and slaughtered the Elamite King Chedorlaomer at Hobah, just north of Damascus]. Doubting God, Sarah told Abraham to sleep with their maid servant Hagar (once forsaken, now rewarded). They had one child; a son named Ishmael (God has harkened). God told Hagar he—Ishmael—“shall be a wild ass of a man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the face of all his brethren”. Thirteen years later, Abraham and Sarah had their own son, Isaac (he laughs). Sarah grew jealous of Hagar and Ishmael and had Abraham banish them to the desert. Ishmael’s descendants through his 12 sons would later form the Bedouin and Arab nations and Isaac’s would be the Israelites, the Jewish nation. Abraham was the grandfather of both.

In 610 AD, Muhammad (praise worthy) claims the archangel Gabriel (Jibril) came to him and told him God wanted him to be his prophet. It was during his visits to Muhammad over 23 years that the text of the Qur’an or Koran was written. Upon Muhammad’s death there was a schism on who should be the next leader of the faith and questioned rightful succession of Muslim leadership—the Caliph.

The two differing arguments formed the basis for the two major sects of Islamic belief: the Sunnis and Shi’as (also known as Shi’ite). The Sunni Muslims wanted a new leader elected from those best suited and capable for the job. The name Sunni means “one who follows the traditions of the Prophet”. The Shi’a Muslims believed the leadership should remain within the Prophet’s family, those specifically appointed by him, or the Imams that God chooses. Their preference would be for Muhammad’s cousin/son-in-law to assume leadership. The name Shi’a, short for Shi’a t-Ali, means a group or supportive party of people. The Sunni Muslims were victorious.

Sunnis Muslims make up 85% of Muslims and are located from the Mid-East through Africa and into Indonesia. Shi’a Muslims make up the remaining 15% and are located in Iran, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and Lebanon.

In addition to the rift between the two differing beliefs of Islam, there is an age old battle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Between the Persians and Arabs. It is significant enough that the Arabs refer the to “Persian Gulf” as the Arab Gulf or simply “The Gulf”. None of their maps have “Persian” on them

Map of Middle East

Where is Syria?

Syria or more formally the Syrian Arab Republic is a country in the Middle East. It is bordered to the North by Turkey, Iraq to the East, Jordan and Israel to the South and Lebanon to the West. A portion of the country has a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. 

The population of 22 to 22.5 million people is mostly Sunni Muslims. However, the ruling family—the al-Assads—is from a minority sect known as Alawites, a Shi’a Muslim sub-sect. Syria is a ethnically diverse country with an Arab majority and Kurdish and Armenian minorities. The majority (74%) is Sunni Muslim. The ruling family shares their Alawite beliefs with 5% of population. Christians (Christian Arabs) and Druze comprise 10% and 3% respectively.

Syria was once part of the Ottoman Empire until its demise in 1918 (after World War I). At that time the French began to occupy Syria and maintained an oppressing force until after World War II. It gained its independence in 1946 and then went through several regime changes, many by military coup. In 1970, Hafez al-Assad came to power and maintained his control until his death in 2000. Upon his death, his son Bashar assumed the presidency and continues to rule today.

Who is the al-Assad Family?

Bashar al-Assad is President and Commander in Chief of all Syria’s armed forces. He is the third child and served as a physician in the military. His specialty is Ophthalmology. His younger brother Maher Al-Assad commands Syria’s elite forces the Republican Guard and the Fourth Armored Division. Bashar assumed office from his father Hafez al-Assad who was president from 1971 till his death in 2000. The family name ‘al-Assad’ means “the Lion” in Arabic. Like their family namesake, they are fierce and are quick to use violence.

Former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad with his wife and children. Maher, Bashar, Bassel, Majid and Bushra.

President Bashar al-Assad and his father are known for their repressive nature. They have restricted and censored the press; dissidents were either captured, made to disappear or tortured and killed. In 1982, al-Assad’s father responded to a Muslim Brotherhood (Sunni Muslim) led uprising in Hama by leveling entire neighborhoods, killing thousands of civilians. Most had nothing to do with the uprising. For a modern timeline of Syria, please scroll down to bottom of post.

So what is going on now?

Since the Arab Spring of 2011,there have been over 100,000 deaths; the mostly Sunni population is trying to overthrow the al-Assad government (Shi’a) in a bloody civil war. Syrian refugees are estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 million having fled to bordering countries of Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Those attempting to overthrow the government are called “the Rebels”. There have been three reported gas attacks.

            03 DEC 2012 Gas attack in city of Homs—“several” killed.

            19 MAR 2013 Gas attack near city of Aleppo—more than 150 killed.

            21 AUG 2013 Gas attack by al-Assad—over 1400 dead, including 400 children.

al-Assad and his supporters

Assad’s forces are strengthening. Hezbollah and Iranian al-Quds are training a new national defense force of 50,000 in addition to the standing strength of 180,000. Because of compulsory enlistment at age 18, and then remaining in Reserves until age 40 (this is subject to change depending on needs of military), it is difficult to determine the exact number.

Hezbollah (Party of God) Shi’a Islamic militant group based in Lebanon. Stands alongside al-Assad regime. Provides significant material/support for Hamas in its struggle against Israel. Has agreed to disagree with Hamas in Syria.

International Support for al-Assad Regime

Iran

(1)   Hates Israel and perceives Israel and the US as threats. It sends arms to Lebanon based militant group Hezbollah and Gaza based Hamas. It needs Syria to remain intact to facilitate arms to Hezbollah.

(2)   Is Shi’a Muslim, the same as ruling family of Syria.

(3)   Does not want Syria to become a member of Arab League.

Russia

(1)  Russia has a naval installation in Syria, that is strategically important and Russia’s last foreign military base outside of the former Soviet Union.

(2)  Russia especially Putin, still lives in the past and likes the Cold War so it stands opposite USA and its allies.

(3)  Russia does not like “international intervention” because it feels threatened by Western imperialism and does not want the USA shaping the middle-East.

(4)  Syria buys a lot of military exports, over $160 million a year and recently signed a deal for $550 million in fighter jets.

China

(1)   Financial. Is Syria’s third largest importer.

(2)   Ideology. Does not like the international community imposing itself in a sovereign nations business. Some believe, if this is allowed then what is to keep others from seeking similar actions against China.

The Rebels

Anti-government forces are divided by their competing interests and differing opinions regarding the shape of future government. As such there is no central command, no coordination, and do not fight as one cohesive force. Inasmuch there is no central Command, some argue Supreme Joint Military Command (led by General Salim Idriss, a Sunni defector from al-Assad’s army), tries to coordinate efforts. Rebels will sometimes fight each other and often times change allegiance.

Syrian National Council (SNC) is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey and is linked to the Free Syrian Army, which is comprised mostly of defected Syrian Army soldiers. It seeks a more democratic government and freedom of press.

National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces is an interim government that would become the provisional government upon a successful coup. This is the group that is recognized internationally (including US) as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Militias

Free Syrian Army (military defectors) Approximately 80,000 fighters. Some intelligence sources have this number at 50,000. FSA largely made up of elements of the Sunni Wahhabis Islamic movement. Backed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Salafist groups (Sunni groups whose name means “the predecessors”)

Jabhat al-Nusra—Victory Front—believes in global jihad and uses suicide bombings. Over 6,000 men that are meticulously vetted. Most are from lower income, conservative Syrians. They get their weapons from al-Qaeda and funding from Iraq and other “private sources”. It has captured oil wells and grain silos.

Ahrar al-Sham—Freemen of Greater Syria—is slightly more moderate, but like Jabhat al-Nusra wants to impose strict Islamist state. Both of these groups are linked to Al-Qaeda.

Syrian Islamic Front 13,000 to 25,000 fighters. Demanding the formation of an Islamic state with Sharia law.

Liwa al-Tawhid in Aleppo

The Farouq Battalions (between Damascus and Aleppo, to Hasaka in NE)

Farouq Brigade It was from this group the video of a commander (Abu Sakkar) is seen taking a bite out of the still warm heart of a dead Syrian soldier.

Syrian Islamic Liberation Front 35,000 fighters. Fights with FSA. Shared goal of increasing influence of Islam and getting rid of al-Assad.

Hamas (Sunni) A Palestinian group, backed by Hezbollah and Iran in its struggle against Israel. It basically controls the Gaza Strip. It has backed the Rebels in Syria because funding from Iran has decreased. It is getting more money from Qatar.

al-Qaeda Extremist Islamic terrorists. Most extreme of the radical Sunni group. Members in Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, and Iraq. Have sworn support to Ayman al-Zawahiri. It has recruited hard line Jihadist and its members are battled tested and hardened warriors including the war in Chechnya.

International Support for Rebels

United States of America, United Kingdom and France have given their support to the rebels. Saudi Arabia and Qatar provide finance and supply weapons.

Saudi Arabia has been supporting Free Syrian Army (FSA) mainly financially allowing Qatar to facilitate movement and shipment of arms. The Saudis biggest and longest enemy is Iran. They quickly dismiss this as a Sunni/Shi’a rivalry and point toward the Arab/Persian conflict.

Others

Muslim Brotherhood (Sunni). This Sunni group has had a 30-year problem with the al-Assad regime. Bashar’s father Hafez quelled an uprising that lead to the massacre at Hama. The group’s leadership was either in exile, imprisoned, or killed. Egypt’s Islamic support base overthrew US backed President and friend of President Obama, Mohamed Morsi. With its vast international network, is supporting several rebel factions in Syria, including Hamas. Shi’a Iran is also trying to work with them although they are Sunni, only to the extent of spreading Islam in North Africa, pushing out all other religions (Coptic Christians, Christians, Orthodox Christians, and Jews)

Iran: Yes, it is also supporting The Rebels. It is supporting Hamas and to a lesser extent, the Muslim Brotherhood. It has two dogs in this hunt. No matter the outcome, Iran wins.

What are we to do?

President Barack Obama (D) and Secretary of State John Kerry (D) along with former Speaker Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and  Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) want to have “limited, proportional strategic” missile attacks. Since this was first given to Congress, there have been over 50 changes to the Pentagon’s attack plan. These changes coming from the White House and each successive plan is more aggressive from an original missile attack to now (at time of writing) using stealth aircraft to take out moving targets. Although, they maintain that none of the plans will include “boots on the ground”.

Contrary to what the President and Secretary of State maintain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) General Martin E. Dempsey (USA) presented a battle plan that stated at least 75,000 “boots on the ground” are necessary to find, capture, defend and remove chemical weapons. Then we have the use of aircraft. If a US or allied aircraft is shot down, you then must launch a USAF CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue) or USMC TRAP (Tactical Recovery of Aircraft And Personnel) mission. For the USMC, it requires two CH-53K Super Sea Stallions with a crew of 4 each with 10 Marines and 1 (minimum) Navy Corpsman in each bird. Also, requires the escort of two AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters with a crew of 2 for each. That Mr. President is “boots on the ground”.

The President maintains that we must act because Assad used CWs. He first stated on 20 AUG 2012, that the use of CWs would be a “red line”. Below highlighted in RED are the references to red line used before President Obama used them on 20 AUG and the subsequent uses. After he used them on 20 AUG 2012, an administration official speaking on background said the President was to scare Assad but went further than anyone expected. He gave and off-the-cuff statement. Last week, he backed off the red line comment saying he did not make the red line but the world made the red line. I simply ask you to read his comments on the 20 AUG and his use of pronouns like “I” and “us” and you decide who set the red line.

While I am convinced CWs were used, I am not convinced they were used by Assad’s regime. What does he have to gain by using them? He and his army are winning the civil war. The location (Ghouta outside of Damascus) of the last attack was a residential area only a few hundred yards from a rebel stronghold. Why would he gas the civilians when he could have gassed the rebels? Also, the administration says they have “credible” proof that Assad is behind the attacks, but they will not provide that proof. All we have are YouTube videos of the people either dead or in taking their last labored breaths.

Why should we act now? Over 100,000 people have died in just over two years, why are the deaths of these 1,400 more important than the others? Is it the cause of their deaths? Because they died of gas instead of a bullet or a sword? What about all the deaths by gas during the Iran-Iraq war? What about Saddam Hussein gassing the Kurds? (The world did not know of this at the time, only years later.) What about the gas attack that killed Bosnian Muslims? It turned out that they killed their own in an attempt to garner sympathy from world leaders. If the attack in Ghouta was from a rocket, where are the pictures of individuals with shrapnel wounds? Where is the blood?

We do not have the facts of the situation, we only have what they want us to have. I do not know if this was a false flag op, or if Assad did use CW. Regardless, I do not think we need to respond with a military strike. Are we capable of such? Yes. But what do we say the day after the attack when we see pictures of torn and mutilated civilians that were just in the wrong place and the wrong time. Do we express our regrets to their loved ones and remind them their deaths were within “acceptable civilian casualties”? Do we respond so President Obama saves face if in fact he did speak “off-the-cuff”? President Obama in Sweden last week said, “My credibility is not on the line. The international community’s credibility is on the line. And America's and Congress’ credibility is on the line.” So Mr. President, do you think if you proceed with your attack, the headlines the next morning will read “Look how credible USA is!”?

Timeline of US Position On Syria

18 AUG 2011  First time Obama tells al-Assad to step down and leave.

04 FEB 2012    Russia and China rejects a UN Security Council resolution backing a democratic transition.

08 FEB 2012    Senators McCain (R-AZ), Graham (R-SC) and Lieberman (I-CT) urges Obama administration to consider providing arms to Syrian opposition.

05 MAR 2012  McCain is first lawmaker calling for military action (US led airstrikes).

27 MAR 2012  Mitt Romney (R) calls on Obama to provide arms to Rebels.

31 MAY 2012  Jay Carney, White House Press Secretary is asked after UN envoy Kofi Annan fails to broker a peace plan if there is a “red line” for al-Assad. He sidesteps the question.

13 JUL 2012    Pentagon Press Secretary George Little says use of CW would “cross a serious red line”. First time administration uses the term publicly.

17 JUL 2012    Josh Earnest, White House spokesman says administration is concerned about use of CW by al-Assad.

23 JUL 2012    Obama says al-Assad regime will be “held accountable” if it uses CW.

11 AUG 2012  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) in Istanbul says it is clear to the al-Assad regime the use of CWs is a “a red line for the world”.

20 AUG 2012  Obama for the first time uses “red line”. “I have, at this point, not ordered military engagement in the situation. But the point that you made about chemical and biological weapons is critical. That’s an issue that doesn't just concern Syria; it concerns our close allies in the region, including Israel. It concerns us. We cannot have a situation where chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people. We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation. We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region that that’s a red line for us and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons. That would change my calculations significantly” (Emphasis is mine.)

28 SEP 2012    Defense Secretary Leon Panetta states most CWs stockpiles are secure, but smaller caches are being moved around and US intelligence cannot account for all of them.

03 DEC 2012   Obama giving a speech at National Defense University again warns al-Assad over use of CWs. “If you…use (sic) these weapons, there will be consequences…you will be held accountable”. On same day in Prague, Sec. Clinton US is “planning to take action” if CWs are used.

07 DEC 2012   Pentagon starts drafting plans for preemptive strikes.

02 FEB 2013    The New York Times reports Clinton and former CIA Director David Petraeus had crafted a plan to provide rebel groups with lethal arms and training. Obama rejected plan because he was in the middle of re-election and did not want this coming out.

07 FEB 2013    Panetta and CJCS Gen. Dempsey, they agreed with plan to provide arms when questioned by McCain. McCain summarized, “What this means is that the president overruled the senior leaders of his own national security team, who were in unanimous agreement that America needs to take greater action to change the military balance of power in Syria”.

18 MAR 2013  Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) breaks ranks with president and wants to go further in Syria, supporting and creating a safe zone.

19 MAR 2013  Reports of CW use at a town near Aleppo. Assad regime blames the rebels. The White House warns there shall be “consequences”, but we could not confirm the use of CWs.

20 MAR 2013  Obama in a presser says the use of CWs would be a “game changer”.

11 APR 2013   Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) joins the ranks of lawmakers supporting arms to rebels.

25 APR 2013   White House in a letter to Congress says “with varying degrees of confidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale in Syria, specifically the chemical agent sarin”. The letter states: We go on to reaffirm that the President has set a clear red line as it relates to the United States that the use of chemical weapons or the transfer of chemical weapons to terrorist community. It’s precisely because we take this red line so seriously that we believe there is an obligation to fully investigate any and all evidence of chemical weapons use within Syria. But I think nobody should have any mistake about what our red line is. It is when we firmly establish that there has been chemical weapons use within Syria, that is not acceptable to the United States, nor is the transfer of chemical weapons to terrorist organizations. And the people in Syria and the Assad regime should know that the President means what he says when he set that red line. And keep in mind, he is the one who laid down that marker. He’s the one who directed that we provide this information to the public. And he’s the one who we directed we do everything we can to further investigate this information so that we can establish in credible, corroborated, factual basis what exactly took place.” More lawmakers support arms to rebels and no-fly zone.

26 APR 2013   Obama urges caution in Syria. He reiterates that it would be a “game changer” but says more evidence is required to verify that Assad was behind the attack.

30 APR 2013   Obama when asked what he would do if the attack of CWs is verified, responds “a range of options” are available. “Clearly that would be an escalation, in our view, of the threat to the security of the international community, our allies and the United States, and that means that there are some options that we might not otherwise exercise that we would strongly consider”. (Emphasis is mine.)

02 MAY 2013  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (R), confirms the administration is reconsidering its opposition to providing arms to the rebels.

17 MAY 2013  Russian Navy started expanding use of their naval base at Syrian base Tartus.

22 MAY 2013  US Senate panel backs arming Syrian rebels.

14 JUN 2013   US confirms Assad’s regime CWs that killed 150 people and announced it would “increase” military support to rebels.

21 AUG 2013  CW attack at Jobar.

26 AUG 2013  US and UK deployed ships to eastern Mediterranean near Syria. USS Barry, USS Gravely, USS Mahan, USS Ramage, HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious.

29 AUG 2013  British Parliament decides not to take action in Syria not giving support to Prime Minister David Cameron. US deploys fifth warship to area, USS Stout plus two submarines. France deploys a frigate Chevalier Paul (France does not use prefixes to designate ships).

30 AUG 2013  US deploys sixth warship to area, USS San Antonio. Russia deploys RFS Priazovye.

01 SEP 2013    Russia deploys surface ships and submarines to Syrian Coast. RFS Moskva (missile cruiser), RFS Admiral Panteleyev (destroyer), RFS Admiral Nevelskoi (amphibious ship), RFS Peresvet (amphibious ship) UK deploys submarine.

02 SEP 2013    Secretary Kerry appears before Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

03 SEP 2013    Israel launches two missiles to test its advanced defense system. USS Mahan is leaves area, but the USS Kearsarge and USS Nimitz and her battle group are deployed to area. China deploys CNS Jing Gangshan with 1000 marines.

04 SEP 2013    Obama while in Sweden backs away from red line statement. “First of all, I didn't set a red line. The world set a red line when governments representing 98 percent of the world’s population said the use of chemical weapons are [inaudible] and passed a treaty forbidding their use, even when countries are engaged in war. Congress set a red line when it ratified that treaty. Congress set a red line when it indicated that in a piece of legislation entitled the Syria Accountability Act that some of the horrendous things happening on the ground there need to be answered for. So, when I said in a press conference that my calculus about what’s happening in Syria would be altered by the use of chemical weapons, which the overwhelming consensus of humanity says is wrong, that wasn't something I just kind of made up. I didn't pluck it out of thin air. There’s a reason for it.”

06 SEP 2013    Russia sends RFS Nikolai Filchenkov (landing ship) to Syrian coast.

History of Syria 1920 to Present

1920: during WWI, Syria and Lebanon were put under a French mandate by the League of Nations.

1925: Syrians revolted against French rule, beginning at Druze Mountain in southern Syria. The revolt spread throughout Syria and parts of Lebanon.

1936: the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Alliance was signed giving a large amount of autonomy of the Syrian people. Despite the treaty, anti-French feelings remained.

1939: France suspended the Syrian Constitution, and with the outbreak of WWII, the French Army garrisoned Syria.

1941: British and Free French forces invaded and occupied Syria. Later that year, the French proclaimed Syria an independent republic.

1943: Shukri al-Kuwati was elected President of Syria.

1944: Complete Syrian independence achieved.

1945: Syria joined the Arab League and became a charter member of the United Nations.

1946: All foreign troops withdrew from Syria.

1948 – 1949: The Arab League waged war on Israel unsuccessfully. This defeat, as well as internal disagreements over unification with Iraq, led to growing doubt in Syria’s parliamentary government.

1949: Syria experienced three coups, bringing briefly to power Col. Husni al-Za’im, suspected to have been placed by the U.S. CIA. Former President Shukri al-Kuwati was briefly imprisoned, then exiled. The third coup was led by Lt. Col. Adib al-Shiskakli, who changed the constitution and ruled as a dictator until 1954 when he lost a presidential election.

After the election a coalition government uniting the People’s National, and Ba’ath parties was formed. Shukri al-Kuwati was again elected as president, marking the rise of the Ba’athist party.

1956: Syria and Egypt signed a pact with the Soviet Union, which supplied arms, tanks and planes in exchange for a foothold for communism. Tension and conflict continued with Israel.

1958: Syria united with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic, but in 1961 they separated, and re-established the Syrian Arab Republic.

1967: During the Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel.

The socialist Ba’athist Party became divided between continued conflict with Israel and closer ties to the Soviets. Strife led to a bloodless coup led by Gen. Hafez al-Assad, who chose to unite with other Arab states against Israel. Bringing much-needed stability to the nation, Assad was elected to a seven-year term as president in 1971.

1973: A new constitution was approved with the Ba’athists holding a strong majority of seats on the People’s Council. The fourth Arab-Israeli war broke out. Syria and Israel then accepted a UN Security Council cease-fire resolution, but fighting continued into 1974.

1976: As part of a peacekeeping force Syria sent troops into Lebanon. The Syrian troops instead sided with Lebanese Muslims against the Christians.

1982: Israel invaded Lebanon. Again Syrian clashed with Israel and lost. In that same year, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin announced the annexation of the Golan Heights.

1980s: Syria’s growing ties to the Soviet Union and implications it was supporting terrorism created a divide with the western world. With the fall of the USSR in 1991, Syria began to make efforts to re-invent itself.

1991: At the start of the Persian Gulf War, Syria was the first to condemn Iraq for the invasion of Kuwait, and sent 20,000 troops to join coalition forces.

2000: President Hafez al-Assad died. His son, Bashar al-Assad, became Syria’s new president.

                               

2005: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated. Hariri had long opposed Syria’s interference in Lebanon. His death brought anti-Syrian protests and a successful call to withdraw Syrian troops from Lebanon.

2006: President al-Assad announced support of an Iranian nuclear program.

2007: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited al-Assad against the wishes of President George W. Bush.

2011: The Arab Spring broke out and so did anti-government protests across the Arab region. Al-Assad’s military replied with force, killing more than 100 and driving thousands of Syrian refugees into Turkey. The Arab League of 22 countries suspended Syria’s membership. The US, EU and others imposed economic sanctions on the al-Assad government in an unsuccessful effort to quell the violence.

2012: The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces was established in Qatar, intended to replace the al-Assad government. The coalition supports the Free Syrian Army. In December, the city of Homs reports of a suspected gas attack.

19 MAR 2013: Reports of gas used in the city of Aleppo.

21 AUG 2013: In the east Damascus neighborhood of Jobar, in an area known to support rebel forces, hundreds of people rushed to local hospitals sickened by, and showing symptoms consistent with, exposure to poison gas. The US, Arab League and others say they have no doubt al-Assad’s forces were responsible.