Cradle of Civilization: What Will Be the Tipping Point in Syria?
Rep. Trent Franks
Stephanie Hammond
Friday, July 15, 2011
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Rayburn 2212
A panel discussion with remarks by:
Mr. Andrew Tabler, Next Generation Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Mr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., Founder, Save Syria Now!
Mr. Sherkoh Abbas, President, Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria
Two Congressional Fellows with Partnership for a Secure America will host a panel discussion on the deteriorating situation in Syria.
The situation in Syria has continued to deteriorate since protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime began in March. According to human rights groups, more than 1,400 people have been killed over the past four months in Syria and as many as 12,000 are seeking refuge in Turkey. Thousands of protesters have been arbitrarily detained and subject to brutal torture in detention since the start of the uprising. Yet unlike in Libya, international call for Assad to step down has been slow and questions remain about the role of the international community in calling for an end to violence against civilian protesters. Why the comparably muted response to the courage of the Syrian people? Is U.S. policy towards the uprisings in Arab nations in American interests? This briefing will examine the current situation in Syria, the role of U.S.-Syria relations, the importance of Syria in the region, and the growing tension near the Syrian borders.
