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The Issue: A rebel group has forced out Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The fall of Syria’s genocidal dictator Bashar al-Assad is truly an instance of opportunity meeting dangerous uncertainty (“Chaos in Syria,” Dec. 8).
Since 2011, Assad has slaughtered 500,000 of his own people and driven millions more into exile. His defeat offers Syrians hope and is a crushing blow to Iran, Hezbollah and Russia.
However, while Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the leading rebel faction, opposes Iran and has expressed interest in peace with Israel, HTS is also an Islamist group formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda and now backed by Turkey.
The Middle East may be entering a new dawn. But there is risk, too, of an even bleaker night.
Stephen A. Silver
San Francisco, Calif.
The United States should hold up celebrating until we know what Syria’s new leadership will be like. This could wind up being another Afghanistan, where women have zero rights.
Right now, the 900 or so Americans in eastern Syria should be evacuated.
Peter J. Peirano
Ridgewood, NJ
“Face the Nation” recently asked if Syria might become the first real Arab Muslim democracy in the Middle East.
Probably not. Not even “democratic” Israel today is anywhere near an authentic democracy, nor is the United States, though our people regularly claim to have the same republican form of government the Founders originally set up.
Military and political leaders of the Syrian rebels will hang their hats on a form of government that will allow ambitious individuals to corner extraordinary power and wealth for themselves and minimize those benefits for the people.
There will be no Mahatma Gandhi, who will teach real self-determination to a classroom of all people.
There will be no George Washington, who will voluntarily give up power after a relatively short term of office.
But maybe there will be less chemical warfare directed against next-door neighbors.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Woods Cross, Utah
What comes next for Syria is anyone’s guess. But if the past is prologue, things could go from bad to worse, as they often do.
The rebels insist the post-Assad Syria will be better than it has been under Assad rule. We can only hope these words are followed by positive actions going forward.
There are still American hostages over there needing to be released. There are reportedly stockpiles of chemical weapons that cannot fall into the hands of terrorist organizations.
Once again, we can see the futility of US intervention. The fall of Syria, like the fall of Afghanistan, shows just how little we know about handling these ongoing, world-shattering threats.
Wasted money and needless deaths should not be an endless epitaph.
Sal Giarratani
Boston, Mass.
Removing Assad from power is a big mistake. It will unleash even more chaos in this unstable region, while giving al-Qaeda a new base of operations. Is that really what the West wants?
The Assad regime protected Christians and other minorities. With al-Qaeda in charge, it would be fair to expect the worst for these endangered communities.
Sometimes the devil you know is the only logical choice.
Nick Gatsoulis
Manhattan
Yet another secular state in the Middle East has been destroyed.
This was due in part to the support of our State Department and military, which are illegally occupying part of Syria to steal its oil and operate by the flawed philosophy that the “enemy of my enemy must be my friend.”
Michael Pravica
Henderson, Nev.
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