Overview
The dramatic chronicle of an American journalist caught between President Bashar and U.S. Middle East policy
A key player in the Middle East and the site of violent protests in 2011, Syria has long been a thorn in Washington's side when it comes to forging peace or rolling back the influence of the Islamic republic of Iran. But only after the events of 9/11 and Damascus's staunch opposition to the war in Iraq did the U.S. government begin an unannounced campaign to pressure President Bashar al-Assad's regime to revamp its regional and domestic policies. The book vividly captures Tabler's behind-the-scenes experiences and provides a firsthand look at 21st-century Syria and Washington's attempts to craft a "New Middle East." Examining the effects of the neoconservatives' strategy and asking what went wrong and how Washington can achieve a new relationship with this pivotal Middle Eastern nation, this investigation provides a rare glimpse into U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Reviews
"Tabler's unique position as an American working to promote Syrian culture allowed him a keen perch from which to observe unfolding events...A singular, critical look inside this compelling Arab nation." —
Kirkus
"Tabler's frontline report offers readers a chilling glimpse of an enigmatic region."
—Publishers Weekly
“A fascinating odyssey through the maze of modern Syria. Full of wisdom, optimism, and caution.” —Jon Alterman, Director of the Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
“It is difficult to think of a more timely book and of an author better suited to write it. Andrew Tabler worked around the inner sanctum of Bashar al-Assad [and] offers unique insights into the inner workings of the regime and of Syria’s ruling elites. Mandatory reading.” —Itamar Rabinovich, Israel’s former chief negotiator with Syria and ambassador to the United States
“Riveting . . . a compelling insider’s account of life under the Assad regime.” —Steven Heydemann, United States Institute of Peace
"...spot on for spelling out Syria's strategic importance: its alliance with Iran and Hezbollah, its border with Israel, its sworn vengeance for the loss of Golan Heights."—The Boston Globe
Author Biography
Andrew Tabler is the Next Generation Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a former fellow of the Washington-based Institute of Current World Affairs, and a former consultant for the International Crisis Group. In 2003 he moved to Syria from Washington and cofounded the country’s first private-sector English-language magazine, Syria Today. His articles have appeared in the
Internatinal Herald Tribune, New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs. He lives in Washington, DC.
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