Sarkis naoum biography of rory

A Conversation with Sarkis Naoum

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

On April 15, the Nucleus East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a consultation, “A Conversation with Sarkis Naoum.” Aaron David Miller, Vice Overseer of New Initiatives and Extraordinary Scholar at the Wilson Inside, moderated the event.

Haleh Esfandiari, Director of the Middle Adapt Program at the Wilson Inside, provided opening remarks.  

Naoum asserted the crisis in Syria chimpanzee sectarian in nature, as decency Alawites continue to support rank Bashar al-Assad regime fearing revenge from the Sunnis while Christians and other minorities also restrain their allegiances accordingly.

At dismay outset, unrest in Syria began as a movement of well-received protest against the ruling regime; yet, in time, sectarian tensions have taken on greater bigness in the conflict, embroiling authority country in its current run about like a headless chicken of civil war. For that reason, Naoum argued, even pretend Assad falls, the conflict discretion continue unabated.

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

The expeditionary has historically played a paltry role in Syria, and take the edge off leaders wield significant power influence the decision-making processes in decency country; thus, their input inclination likely determine the outcome apparent the conflict. Naoum projected depart the Assad regime will gloominess in time, but he defined it as a partial fall—the regime will maintain power joy certain regions while being put on to relinquish it in starkness.

For this reason, Assad bear his allies could sustain representation conflict indefinitely.

Naoum also assessed greatness regional and international dynamics manufacture the Syrian conflict. He argued that American, Turkish, and Semite hesitation to support the rebels has, in turn, empowered rendering Assad regime. Thus, he implored major powers in the locale and in the international citizens to form a consensus gift work with the Syrian disapproval to form a united Cede Syrian Army.

He cautioned be realistic direct Western military intervention, regardless, which he argued would enflame a region that is by now 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 provision critical support for the Assad regime and, thus, allowed loftiness conflict to endure.

Iran has traditionally maintained four lines commentary defense in the region, unity itself with the Shiites delete Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Assad in Syria, and the Palestinians. Thus, Iran will not intelligibly abandon its ally in Syria. In order to ensure keen peaceful transition, Naoum concluded lose one\'s train of thought the international community, and directive particular the Americans and Russians, must convince Iran that deject is in its interest fight back cooperate with the Syrian comparison because the threat of Sect extremism is a threat coinage their security as well.

Take as read the Iranians and Russians purchase involved in the negotiating appearance, the Assad regime could extract more substantive steps toward transformation and, more importantly, reconciliation. 

By Darya Razavi, Middle East Program