Episode 789: Syria and the Fall of Assad

Newt's World

Gingrich 360

News, Politics

4.7 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 December 2024

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Newt talks with Yaakov Katz, the former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, about the historic collapse of the Assad family's 53-year rule in Syria, marking a significant moment 14 years after the Syrian civil war began. Opposition forces declared Syria liberated from President Bashar al-Assad's rule. Katz provides insights into the Assad family's history, the dynamics of the Syrian civil war, and the implications for Syria and the broader Middle East. Katz discusses the Assad regime's brutal tactics, including the use of chemical weapons, and the complex geopolitical landscape involving various factions and international players like the U.S., Russia, Turkey, and Iran. They also discuss Israel's strategic interests and military actions in the region, the role of Kurdish forces, and the potential future of Syria under new leadership.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	On this episode of Nuts World, the stunning collapse of more than 53 years of al-Assad family rule
0:10.4	has been described as a historic moment. Nearly 14 years after Syrians rose in peaceful protest
0:17.1	against the government that met them with violence that quickly spiraled into a bloody civil war.
0:23.2	In the early hours of Sunday morning, December 8th, opposition forces declared Syria liberated
0:28.4	from the rule of President Bashar al-Assad as opposition forces surged into the capital.
0:34.4	Here to talk about the fall of Assad and what is next for Syria and the region.
0:39.2	I'm really pleased to welcome my guest.
0:41.8	Yakov Katz, the former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, author of Shadow Strike,
0:47.2	inside Israel's secret mission to eliminate Syrian nuclear power, somebody who I read constantly
0:52.9	in regard as one of the shrewdest and wisest observers
0:56.3	of the Middle East, and I'm just thrilled that he's here with us.
1:15.9	Yacob, welcome and thank you for joining me on Nuts World.
1:19.3	Mr. Speaker, it's great to be with you in a real honor. Thank you.
1:24.3	You know, you've covered the ongoing Syrian civil war extensively. Can you start by talking about the history of the Assad family, how they came into power?
1:29.0	Definitely.
1:29.8	Bashar al-Assad, who had led Syria for the last 24 years and is now somewhere in Russia,
1:36.4	he was the son of Khafez Assad.
1:38.7	His father was a military officer who took over Syria in a violent way back in about 1971 or so,
1:48.2	and led it with an iron fist for over 30 years almost, till about 2000 when he passed away.
1:55.7	Mike Hayden, who I know that you know well, was the former head of the CIA,
1:59.5	once compared the Assad family to me
2:02.7	to the Corleone family from the Godfather movie. You had the father, the godfather, who was
	...

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