Good evening. I'm Jeff Bennett. I'm the Navazas on assignment. On the news hour tonight, Syria's new president addresses the UN General Assembly, the first Syrian leader to do so in more than half a century.

We speak with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as the federal government moves closer to a shutdown.

He is derelict in his duty as president. He should be sitting down with us. He said he would. And our exclusive interview with the law professor who's suing West Point for new rules that he says violate free speech.

That's the essence of the First Amendment speaking according to our conscience.

It's difficult to imagine any greater value in our Constitution.

Welcome to the News Hour. A remarkable moment today at the UN General Assembly in New York,

a man who just one year ago had a U.S. bounty on his head strode to the center of the world stage as the president of Syria.

For the first time in nearly 60 years, a Syrian leader spoke to the

assembled dignitaries. And this time, it's Ahmed al-Shara, who fought the Assad regime for more

than a decade, and before that fought the Americans in Iraq. Ali Rogan has more.

The shadowy militant commander, the U.S. once hunted across Syria, now that nation's leader, making history as he took the stage at the UN General Assembly.

Syria has transformed from an exporter of crisis to an opportunity for peace for Syria and the region.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara called for a lifting of all sanctions and promised a new Syria

free of its wretched past.

Syria today is rebuilding itself through establishing a new state building institutions and

laws that guarantee the rights of all without exception.

While turning the page of a wretched past, we are determined to restore Syria's glory,

dignity, and honor.

It's a stunning shift for a man who, until recently, was designated a terrorist by the U.S. and U.N.

Al-S. has traded his fatigues for tailored suits, and this week embrace the global stage in New York City, meeting world leaders, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He also attended political forums.

Salam al-a-a-a-a-Rais.

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