8mo ago

Russia says Bashar al-Assad has 'stepped down and left Syria'

Summary

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, has reportedly fled the country, according to Russia and rebel forces.

His last public appearance was a week ago, and his whereabouts remain unknown, with conflicting reports about his departure and potential destination.

22 comments

Russia can't protect its allies. This is big. Russia has lost both military and political power. BRICS only survives because of China. Russia will implode over its economy soon too.
- "BRICS" isn't any sort of actual alliance. South Africa is rapidly approaching failed state territory while China and India have ramped up hostilities across their borders.
  
  BBC, Oct.: India and China agree to de-escalate border tensions
  Time, Nov.: Why India and China Are Finally Starting to Patch Things Up
He's not pining, he's passed on! This man is no more! He has ceased to be! He's expired and gone to meet his maker! This is a late dictator! He's a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed him to the perch, he would be pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now history! He's off the twig! He's kicked the bucket, he's shuffled off the mortal coil, rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-dictator!
- Well, I'd better replace it then
  …
  Sorry gov', we're right out of dictators. I've got a slug
My employer did not fire me, I quit!
🤓
Stepped down? So like there's a secret staircase to Minsk?
- More likely a window
- 40,000 feet down approximately and there's a cozy jet-fuel bonfire at the end of said staircase.
“Retired abroad”
- Is this the "He went to live in a farm upstate where he can run and play" version of Russian-aligned dictators?
sad kazoo music
He's definitely left the place in pieces.
He reminds me of the guy in the Godfather movies. He could have been a boring doctor living a quiet life but he let himself get sucked into the family business and it defined who he became.
Why didn't step down from the beginning? He was forced to.
- You'll see why when this new government gets established.
Is Syria the country Western powers wanted (and no doubt helped) a change of guard?
- No.
  Western powers don't support the Sunni forces. They supported the Kurds off and on, who are one of the most democratic and multilateral governments in the middle east, but it was the Sunni forces who overthrew Assad.
  The US definitely didn't like Assad using chlorine gas on civilians, and called airstrikes on his military occasionally, but Obama, Trump and Biden never strove for a regime change there.
  This regime change was caused by Syrian economic issues, Turkish aid, reduced infighting between the Kurds and the Sunnis, and the collapse of Russia's illegal Wagner PMC.
- It's sure one of them. And now the rebels are asking for Israel's help.
  https://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-rebel-commander-urges-israel-to-support-uprising-strike-iran-backed-forces/
  
  Interestingly the leader of the biggest faction now.. the guy that started the steamroll. His family is originally from the Golan heights.
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Mohammad_al-Julani
- Yes. It was one of the countries that weren't sucking israel's dick so it had to go. Just look at the pattern of all the other Middle Eastern countries that have been regime changed.

22 comments