The Truth about Syria

by Barry Rubin

Book Overview

Syria has long presented a serious problem for the Middle East region and U.S. policy. With its mix of competing religious and ethnic groups, radical ideologies, and political repression, it is a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1403982732
• ISBN13: 9781403982735
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Work

This is a great work about Syria and a must if you want to understand more about the Middle East.This book is a no holds barred kind of account in which the author just tells it like it is.The book gives you a very good look of a regimen that feeds off the fear of his people and just wants to consolidate his power without regard for any consequences.The book is easy to read and understand since the author writes in a simple and easy manner without compromising substance or importance.Just a great book for anyone interested in the Midddle East.

An Outstanding Book

This is an outstanding examination of a near prefect tyranny. The author does not deal in idealistic hopes and dreams of starry eyed journalists and amateur diplomats (re Hillary Clinton) but the brutal Machiavellian realities of a murderous ruling clique. It is obvious from reading this work that any hope for change from the Assad government is silly, silly as in the tours by groveling US congressmen and diplomats to that country. This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the Middle East. I can also recommend Barry Rubin's books Hating America and The Long Road to Freedom.

Must reading about Syria

Professor Rubin's book does for Syria what John Gunther did many years for USSR. Shorn of topical references, this is an "Inside Assad's Syria" and can give many people insights into what the regime is about, how it works and what it is like. It is, if you will, a "user's guide." That doesn't mean that every prognostication or evaluation in the book is precisely right, but it does mean you will come away with the understanding that a regime such as Syria is very different from the sort of political reality that you might know as a person living in a free society with post modern industrial values. I would have liked to see more history and detail about the workings of the regime and relation to Hezbollah and Iran, suppression of dissidents and prospects for political change, and less dwelling on prognostications that are apt to be mistaken in the nature of things, but this is still a must-read book. When you come to a place like Syria or want to understand such a regime, everyone must understand "You are not in Kansas Dorothy" - words don't have the same meaning, concepts like democracy don't mean the same thing either.

Very much worth reading

In this book, Barry Rubin has made a good case for pursuing a different policy towards Syria. As he explains, Syria is a dictatorship that is the source of two wars right now. It is the main sponsor of a terrorist insurgency in Iraq, making it for all practical purposes at war with the United States. And it has "played a central role in inciting and inflaming the Arab-Israeli conflict." On top of that, it has dominated Lebanon for thirty years. In response to Syria's transgressions, has the US frozen Syrian assets in the United States, or prohibited American businesses from investing in Syria, or reduced our diplomatic contacts, or even restricted the travel of Syrian diplomats on US soil? As Rubin points out, we haven't. The author shows that Syria acts in such a belligerent manner in large part because it simply does not take our threats seriously. And that Bashar Assad "prefers conflict over peace, tyranny to reform, and demagoguery that pleases its citizens rather than services that benefit them." Rubin explains that Bashar preferences are "rational responses to the situation of Syria's regime." In any case, American policy towards Syria has made matters worse. Although Syrian sponsorship of terrorism has been unceasing, even in 2006, James Baker was "still bragging - at the moment when Damascus's terrorism-sponsoring activities were at a record high - about how his frequent visits to Damascus supposedly weaned Syria away from supporting terrorism." Several American "experts" on Syria can also be counted on to justify Syrian claims and apologize for the regime's actions. Rubin says that we will get nothing out of negotiations with Syria. After all, the Syrians have far-reaching totalitarian and goals that are the opposite of the goals of Western democratic states. We can't offer Syria what it wants without further destabilizing the region. Meanwhile, the Syrians think they are winning and act like it, they believe their enemies to be weak and easily outfoxed, they profit from their militancy, and they have been consistently deceitful with any promises. Here is Rubin's list of ten things that America wants but Syria does not: 1) A peaceful situation in the region 2) An end to terrorism and punishment for state sponsors of covert violence against their neighbors 3) A calm Lebanon-Israel border with no attacks in either direction 4) A strong Lebanon with a strong, independent central government 5) A peace treaty ending the conflict between the Arabs and Israel 6) A United States that is popular in the Arab world because it brokered successful peace agreements 7) A stop to Iran's nuclear program and a moderate democratic government there 8) A moderate democratic state in Iraq, with an end to the communal strife there 9) Real democracy in all Arabic-speaking states 10) A democratic Syria, which focuses on development rather than war and subversion. The author concludes that Syria is actually rather weak and is dependent larg

A first- rate study of a backward but dangerous regime

Barry Rubin is one of the outstanding experts on the political realities of the Middle East. In this work he focuses on Syria, and provides a clear and convincing picture of its recent history, and overall role in the 'Middle East'. As Rubin sees it Syria a relatively weak country has had major influence on Middle East politics recently, rolling back the clock and moving the Arab world towards the kind of situation it had between the nineteen- fifties and nineteen- eighties. As Rubin sees it Syria has played a key role in fueling the insurgency in Iraq against American troops. It has defied the Western belief that concessions made to it will bring it to greater moderation. In fact Rubin shows that only when it is weakened and faced with greater strength does Syria respond with moderation. The withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, and Syria's backing down from confrontation with Turkey are two conspicuous examples of this. Rubin speaks about the Assads, father and son, the role of the non- Muslim Alawite minority in ruling in Syria. He shows the truth of the old perception that tyrannical regimes remain in power through forcing attention to external problems and crises. Rubin is especially instructive in showing how a relatively weak Syria has influenced stronger Middle Eastern countries to follow its diplomatic line. This is a most highly recommended study for all those who would deepen their knowledge not only about Syria, but about the critical processes of Middle Eastern diplomacy and politics.