Bashar alassad, who spent years training to be a doctor, suddenly found himself, at the age of 34, occupying the most powerful position in syria as its new head of state. A portrait of syrian president bashar al assad is visible through a broken window next to the site of a suicide attack in the masaken barzeh district of the capital damascus, on feb. Not just a theoretical doctor, not one of those who enrolled in medical school but never touched a patient. Assad s paternal grandfather, ali sulayman al assad, had managed to change his status from peasant to minor notable and, to reflect this, in 1927 he had changed the family name from wahsh meaning savage to al assad. As 51yearold bashar hafez al assad leads syria deeper into the type of violence and chaos that can only result in his nations destruction and his own demise, a grim question occurs. Syrian strongman bashar assad has only himself to blame as he heads for historys garbage heap. Jun 10, 2000 the syrian parliament almost immediately amended the constitution to allow his son and heir, 34yearold bashar al assad, to succeed him as president even though he is under the minimum age of 40.
Its a history of the assad familys takeover of syria with hafez al assad in 1971, then his crushing of the rebellion in homs in the 1980s, and bashar s rise to power after the sudden death of his older brother. Vladimir putin jokes with syrian dictator bashar al assad that he will invite trump to damascus to have a biblical conversion. Bashar hafez al assad was born in damascus on 11 september 1965, the second oldest son of anisa makhlouf and hafez al assad. In spite of early hopes that his presidency would usher in an era of democratic reform and economic revival, bashar alassad largely continued his fathers authoritarian methods. Feb 01, 2005 this series contains absorbing accounts of the leaders who have changed the course of history. Inside syrias deadly dynasty, a fascinating twohour special that airs sunday on the national geographic network, documents the rise of syrian president bashar assad from an unassuming. Bashar al assad chose to pursue a career in medicine, the untimely death of his older brother and father pushed him into the political spotlight. The second son of former president hafez al assad, he has continued the legacy of his fathers brutal rule of syria. Bashar al assad has strong ties to iran and hezbollah, which pisses off the us, israel, and some arab states. Bashar alassad biography childhood, life achievements. Inside syrian president bashar al assad s crackdown photographs of corpses offer evidence of industrialscale campaign against political opponents by assad regime, u. President bashar alassad laughed and said he sleeps fine when he was asked during an interview about all the children killed every day in syria.
Ben taubs documentary for the new yorker radio hour features william wiley of the commission for international justice and mazen al hamada, who was tortured by syrian authorities to give a. There is of course a big difference between bashar assad as a person and the system he inherited and is trying hard to reform. Latakians were already in a state of turmoil and anxiety. He studied political science and economics at damascus university and was later given an honorary phd in politics from the soviet academy of sciences. The young asad was raised in a closely knit community of family members, he is described as helping out with the crops and receiving little education. A bellicose president trump wanted to kill syrian dictator bashar al assad after he launched a chemical weapons attack on civilians in april 2017, according to. May 20, 2017 in 2000, hafez al assad died following a 29year reign, and bashar al assad was elected president. Sep 26, 20 born on september 11, 1965, bashar al assad had no intension of entering political life, let alone becoming president of syria. Hafez al assad s parents were nasa and ali sulayman al assad. Its a history of the assad familys takeover of syria with hafez alassad in 1971, then his crushing of the rebellion in homs in the 1980s, and bashars rise to power after the sudden death of his older brother. A new book detailing the brutal torture and murder meted out by the regime of president bashar al assad serves as a harrowing reminder of the true. Rumours grow syrian leader has suffered fatal stroke rumours are growing syrian leader bashar alassad has died after suffering a stroke. He served in the parliament of syria, called the majlis ashshab from 1971 until his death. Bashar al assad is a war criminal, a schemer, a kleptocrat, an elitist ensconced in the bubble of damascus, and an egomaniac.
Abdel nour says this ulterior motive finally dawned on him in. This series contains absorbing accounts of the leaders who have changed the course of history. Bashar al assad is a younger, more moderate, more progressive arab voice. In light of this appalling record, leschs account contains many passages of extreme gullibility and poor judgment. Bashar alassad, born september 11, 1965, damascus, syria, syrian president from 2000. Bashar al assad is on the verge of retaking idlib province, the last rebel stronghold. A picture of new syrian president bashar al assad is pasted alongside one of his dead father in 2000. The domestic syrian opposition, the united states, canada, the european union states, and the members of the arab league called for his resignation in 20 after it was revealed that he used chemical warfare on his own people. The enigmatic story of how syrias bashar alassad turned. Bulldozing over the revolution syrias regime is stealing land from its opponents. His second book is important for me, because he gives an insight into the mentality and inner workings of the regime.
By the 1920s he was respected locally and initially opposed to the french mandate for syria established in 1923. Never the first choice to succeed his father, he was studying ophthalmology in london when his older brother and heir apparent, bassel, was killed. Assad s syria a dead man walking the state department official, frederic hof, told congress on wednesday that assad s repression may allow him to. Bashar al assad is the president of war torn syria. Assad is a monsterand winner of the syrian civil war. It is deeply ironic that even though bashar al assad is a medical professional he cannot look after his own people.
Bashar alassad biography life, children, parents, story. Mar 09, 2012 syrian dictator bashar alassad has been accused of waging a brutal war against his own people as he fights rebels who want an end to his familys 40year rule. Assad s hollow victory syria will poison the region for years to come. The regime claims that syria has immunity against the. The citizens he is bombing, terrorising and killing have thrown in their lots with terrorist groups and in his eyes they are the enemy, not his people. Towards the end of the book you show how a regime that killed activists who posted anti assad messages on social media is now using those same platforms to rebuild bashar s image. He is the son of hafez al assad who ran as dictator. Bashar al assad facts and information important points. It surpasses anything i have read about the roman or babylonian or even pharaonic excesses. No, bashar alassad was a proper doctor who by all accounts was personable and polite.
He is also fighting against his own people and the is. He declared libya to be liberated at a ceremony in benghazi on 23 october, three days after gaddafis death. Voices it is not just bashar al assad who is responsible for the rise of isis. This particular slaughter in 20 is known as the al bayda massacre.
Syrian army troops hold up portraits of president bashar alassad l and his late father, former president hafez alassad, as they pull out of the southern protest hub of daraa after a military lockdown during which dozens of people were killed in what activists termed as indiscriminate shelling of the town. Emphasis added by global research damascus, sanapresident bashar al assad gave the following interview to afp news agency on the developments in syria and the region. Dec 14, 2011 our view is that this regime is the equivalent of dead man walking, said hof, the state departments pointman on syria, which he said was turning into pyongyang in the levant, a reference to. Bashar alassad chose to pursue a career in medicine, the untimely death of his older brother and father pushed him into the political spotlight. Bassel al assad was very popular and idolized by the syrian youth. President, we would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions in these crucial moments in the history of syria and the region. In addition, he is commanderinchief of the syrian armed forces and regional secretary of the arab socialist baath partys branch in syria. But since march 2011, his rule over syria has been under threat, with the country beset by violence that has killed an estimated 465,000 people and embroiled regional and. David lesch is, to my knowledge, the only foreign academic who has had extensive personal access to president bashar al assad.
France has known what we have been living in syria for four years, he said. Apr 21, 2017 7 books about syria to help you understand the ongoing crisis. The vow of never again is dying in assads prisons the. Trump denies wanting bashar al assad killed after chemical attack. How bashar alassad became a brutal dictator psychology. Syrian president bashar alassad on 60 minutes cbs news. Apr 11, 2017 the man who broke his promise to former president barack obama and who provoked a military attack from president trump is bashar alassad, a man no one including mr. Either he, or assad s grandfather, changed the family name from al wahash the wild beast in arabic to al assad the lion in arabic. And as we continue our survey of our outposts in the middle east, lets turn now to jerusalem, where we find cnns jerrold kessel.
Hafiz al asad was born the 9th of 11 children, his mother naisa, her husbands 2nd wife was 20 years younger than her husband. Bashar al assad hopes to raise skyscrapers, hotels and restaurants from the rubble of the war he started. Vladimir putin jokes syrian dictator bashar alassad. As depressing as it is to write this sentence, the best course of action today is for president bashar al assad s regime to regain control over northern syria. But, pressed on the subject of war crimes, he preferred to talk about the hypocrisies of western leaders. Bashar al asad assumed the presidency in 2000 after the long reign of his father, hafiz al asad, and soon encountered momentous regional and international events. Bashar assad s real name is bashar wahash, bashar the beast. New book by bob woodward alleges trump made the remarks after a chemical attack on the town of khan sheikhoun in 2017. He actually wrote an earlier book about the bashar al assad regime, called the new lion of damascus.
New book reveals grotesque torture and murder by syrian. The best books on the syrian civil war five books expert. Bashar al assad inherited power in july 2000, a month after his father, military strongman hafez al assad died. Assads hollow victory syria will poison the region for. All right, just to recap our story here, syrian president hafez al assad dead at the age of 69, ruled syria for nearly 30 years, by far the longest term leader in the middle east. Rumours are growing syrian leader bashar alassad has died after suffering a stroke. Ali sulayman married twice and had eleven children.
One of the first condemnations came from bashar al assad, the syrian president responsible for 90 per cent of the 250,000 people dead since march 2011. But a tragic death and a calculating father saw to it that he would. Its not like duvalier or assad passing the torch to the son and heir. What did bashar al assad do before he became president. At an early point in his presidency, bashar alassad was seen as a reformer and a force of positive change in the middle east.
But since march 2011, his rule over syria has been under threat. For bashar alassad, winning the syrian war may lead to new troubles forces loyal to president bashar al assad of syria on top of a building overlooking aleppo. Born on september 11, 1965, bashar alassad had no intention of entering political life, let alone becoming president of syria. Mar 14, 2012 for the 30 years that bashar al assad s father, hafez, ruled syria, he kept potential enemies at bay by creating divisions among the people who were in a position to challenge him the late. Bashar alassad bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Aug 10, 2011 cnn bashar alassad wasnt supposed to rule syria. When amnesty revealed hanging in assad s prisons, we must remember that a few years earlier bush and blair were. He later learned that assad s forces had killed his father, his brothers and most of the village.
No one wants to help bashar al assad rebuild syria the syrian president appears comfortably in power, but his supporters in moscow cant afford to. Bashar alassad s political career al assad visits moscows state institute for foreign relations in moscow on january 25, 2005, where he was awarded with a. It is not just bashar alassad who is responsible for. Why the world needs to take out bashar al assad now. He is also the director of the prison in which maher al assad keeps his personal prisoners outside of state jurisdiction. Mr assad also said the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians is the fault of terrorists and said we are talking about war, not charity. Hafez was alis ninth son, and the fourth from his second marriage. When syrian president bashar al assad came to power upon his fathers death in 2000, many in and outside syria held high hopes that the popular young doctor would bring longawaited reform, that he would be a new kind of middle east leader capable of guiding his country toward genuine democracy. Bashar alassads war crimes, exposed the new yorker. Apr 07, 2017 bashar alassad, born in damascus on september 11, 1965, is the scion of a powerful family in syrian politics.
Bashar al assad is the president of syria, having taken over from his fathers 3 decade rule. Hafez al assad was born on october 6, 1930 in kurdaha, syria. President assad s death comes at a critical time in the middle east peace process, with syria this week agreeing to work with the united states. He has been married to asma al akhras since december 2000. Why the world needs to take out bashar al assad now daniel l. Oct 21, 2016 asma al assad gave a rare television interview on 18 october, saying she had refused offers of asylum for her and her children. Who is bashar alassad and is whats he done good, bad, or. The fervor and singlemindedness of this deification probably have no precedent in history. Bashar s dad, hafez al assad, was the president of syria for 30 years. Nearly five years after the government of president bashar al assad agreed to purge syrias chemical weapons stockpile, the chemical warfare shows no. Ntc official ali tarhouni said on 22 october that he had instructed the military council in misrata to keep gaddafis body preserved for several days in a commercial freezer to make sure that everybody knows he is dead. Bashar assad, 47, is a trained ophthalmologist who never wanted to be president. But many syrian people would say that though bashar changed on the surface, he.
Barbara walters interview with syrias president bashar al. P resident trump declared wednesday that after seeing images of children killed by a chemical attack in northern syria, he can no longer support the countrys president, bashar assad. Why is basharal assad bombing, terrorizing, and killing his. Aug 03, 2012 when syrian president bashar al assad came to power upon his fathers death in 2000, many in and outside syria held high hopes that the popular young doctor would bring longawaited reform, that he would be a new kind of middle east leader capable of guiding his country toward genuine democracy.
And to add to the unspeakable tragedy, at the hands of a president who used to be a doctor. Barbara walters interview with syrias president bashar al assad. Therefore, if you were to read the book of revelation in arabic, it. According to the book, trump told the defense secretary, jim mattis, that he wanted to have assad assassinated after the syrian president launched a chemical attack on civilians in april 2017. Special event the death of hafez al assad aired june 10, 2000 4. Social media in the country has been abuzz with claims he has died or is in serious illhealth a fact disputed by his regime. Apr 07, 2017 when bashar alassad first used chemical weapons, in august 20, he violated a red line that president barack obama claimed to have established.
He had inherited the presidency after the death of his father, hafez alassad, in 2000. He grew up in the shadow of his father, the late president hafez alassad, and his older brother, who was groomed to be the next president. Bashar assad is using old tactics to regain his grip on. Mar 29, 2016 im going to start out by saying that bashar al assad is an awful tyrant but unfortunately, he is syria best option for the time being. For syria comment, april 5 2014 by the time hilal alassad reached zahi azraq military hospital in latakia on sunday march 23,2014, he was already dead. If you really want to understand whats going on in syria, this is probably the best book to read. Charlie rose interviews the syrian dictator as a fouryearold civil war drags on in which his regime has been accused of devastating attacks on.
Assad roughly as he might a university colleague, deploying such adjectives as compassionate. His father, hafez al assad, was president of syria from. For bashar alassad, winning the syrian war may lead to. Though he was thought to be part of an enlightened generation of arab leaders, bashar alassad has exercised tyranny in syria to sustain the rule of the minority alawite regime. Bashar al assad is a syrian politician who has been the president of syria since 17 july 2000. Is bashar al assad really as bad as he is being portrayed. Bashar alassad is a syrian dictator since 2000, he was born on september 11, 1965 in damascus, syria. Grad missiles had been raining down on the city for a week. Rifaat al assad was born in the village of qardaha, near lattakia in western syria on 22 august 1937.
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