I read a WIkileaks report showing that at least as far back as 2006, five years before the 2011 protests, that the USA was secretly, or at least to the American people, trying to undermine and overthrow Assad. They spread rumors, they tried to stop foreign investment when the drought stricken country desperately needed it, they funneled money to help create opposition forces, etc. I also remember then when the son took power that he was regarded for a while as a reformer. My question is - To what degree do you think that the USA is responsible for the civil war itself; and separately, assuming Assad knew about the attempts to undermine and overthrow him by the USA, to what degree did that contribute to his over reaction to the initial protests. I say all of this accepting that Assad is a dictator, but recognize that attempting to overthrow a dictator is extremely risky business, with extreme potential for widespread negative consequences.
I read a WIkileaks report showing that at least as far back as 2006, five years before the 2011 protests, that the USA was secretly, or at least to the American people, trying to undermine and overthrow Assad. They spread rumors, they tried to stop foreign investment when the drought stricken country desperately needed it, they funneled money to help create opposition forces, etc. I also remember then when the son took power that he was regarded for a while as a reformer. My question is - To what degree do you think that the USA is responsible for the civil war itself; and separately, assuming Assad knew about the attempts to undermine and overthrow him by the USA, to what degree did that contribute to his over reaction to the initial protests. I say all of this accepting that Assad is a dictator, but recognize that attempting to overthrow a dictator is extremely risky business, with extreme potential for widespread negative consequences.