Syria policy brief articulating the developing situation in Syria (early August), along with the action steps the US should take in support the Syrian revolution. www.AllianceForSyria.org

1. Syria Policy Brief:
The situation in Syria and how the US can
support the pro-democracy uprising.
Prepared by:
www.AllianceForSyria.org
NAFS@AllianceForSyria.org
917-408-3228

2. Summary:
Since mid-March, millions of Syrians have taken to the streets, in peaceful protest, demanding the
overthrow of the brutal regime led by Bashar Al-Assad and a change to a democratic system of
government.
Triggered by the torture of children in the southern Syrian city of Deraa, what began as provincial
grievances against corruption, nepotism and human rights abuses now has reached a tipping point
with large segments of the Syrian population supporting change – there are major protests in every
city, every day.
The regime will fall, it is just a matter of when, and how many people will die.
While the International community increases its condemnation of Assad, it is a critical that the US
should lead, not follow, and clearly articulate a policy grounded in support of the uprising for the
International community to stand behind.
This brief highlights the background, and key steps the US should take in support the
Syrian revolution.
Contents:
 The Situation
o Millions of Syrians march for change
o Assad Regime Response
o Regime ‘Ramadan’ Offensive
o Maturing Opposition
o International Reaction
o US – moving from ‘reform’ to ‘lost legitimacy’
o Why this is important to the US
 What is Needed
o 5 Actions for the US to take
 Testimonials
o Child torture, the story of Hamza Al-Khatib
o Syrian refugees in Turkey, story of Umm Omar
o Defections in the military, story of Wasif
o Syrian-American family attacked, story of Malek Jandali
 About the National Alliance for Syria
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3. The Situation
Millions of Syrians march for change
Since mid-March, millions of Syrians have taken to the streets, in peaceful protest, demanding the
overthrow of the brutal regime led by Bashar Al-Assad and a change to a democratic system of
government.
Triggered by the torture of children in the southern Syrian city of Deraa, what began as provincial
grievances against corruption, nepotism and human rights abuses now has reached a tipping point
with large segments of the Syrian population supporting change – there are major protests in every
city, every day.
The regime will fall, it is just a matter of when, and how many people will die.
Brutal Regime Response
The response to these demands by the Assad regime has been terrible; as of early August:
• More than 2,000 civilians have been murdered, including scores of children
• More than 350 Syrian soldiers have been killed by the regime for disobeying orders to
shoot unarmed protestors
• More than 3,000 civilians have ‘disappeared’
• Some 20,000 have been arrested. They face torture and in many cases death
• More than 12,000 externally displaced refugees (in Turkey & Lebanon)
• There are tens of thousands of internally displaced civilians
Please note, for a nation of ~22 million individuals, these numbers are staggering. From a
proportional perspective, if Syria was the size of the US, there would be 25,000+ killed & 130,000
detained in a matter of months.
Regime ‘Ramadan’ Offensive
Since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (August 1st), the regime has become
increasingly desperate, and has moved to crush the uprising. Military units under the command of
Maher Al-Assad (the president’s brother) have laid siege to multiple cities - Hama, Deir Ezzor &
Homs - systematically bombarding the cities, shutting off electricity, restricting food/ aid/ medical
access and cutting off any escape for civilians. Supported by pro-regime militiamen (aka “Shabiha”),
they are terrorizing the populations through mass-killing and broad detention sweeps. Even under
this pressure, the protests continue, showing the resolve of the Syrian people in their demands for a
free nation.
Decentralized Leadership of Protests Evolving into a Mature Opposition
Much has been made of the lack of organized opposition in Syria, whether in or out of the country.
This has been a major success for the regime. Brutality pays: Over the past 40 years, through
massacres, human rights violations, the culture of fear, sectarian divisions, military and political
impotency, no institutions have been left intact which could be used as a means to oppose the
regime.
With this reality, at the outset of the uprising, the opposition was truly in its infancy, however
despite the systematic assault on activists and community leaders across Syria (estimates are that one
activist disappears every hour in Syria), the decentralized movement is maturing into a well-
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4. connected network of organizers, activists and community leaders – all preparing for the inevitable
collapse of the Assad regime by establishing local representation, connecting them nationally &
internationally and formalizing political platforms.
As this broad-based opposition representing the diversity of Syria develops, it is critical to note that
the Syrian people will not accept an externally fabricated opposition that is not reflective and
grounded in the aspirations of the Syrian people. Examples of this are Ahmed Chalabi in the case of
Iraq, or Farid Ghadry (the Syrian ‘Chalabi’), based in Washington DC.
International Reaction
With the ‘Ramadan’ offensive by the regime, the international community is beginning to issue
broad condemnations. In the past week alone:
 On August 3rd, the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement condemning the
Syrian government's "widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against
civilians."
 Even those nations within the UN Security Council who have been supportive of Assad are
now shifting:
o Brazil, India and South Africa are sending envoys to Damascus to deliver strong
messages of concern
o Even Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that if Assad did not shift course
"a sad fate awaits him …”
 Turkey has repeatedly condemned Assad and most recently their Foreign Minister went to
Syria to deliver the message that Ankara “is running out of patience”
 Italy recalled its ambassador for consultations, citing Damascus’ “horrible repression against
the civilian population”
 A day following the Gulf Co-operation Council urged Syria to "end the bloodshed" Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain recalled ambassadors from Damascus, with the strongest
condemnation coming from Saudi King Abdullah who called on Syria to “stop the killing
machine” and said the violent repression by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government
had “nothing to do with religion, or values, or morality.”
o Even the impotent Arab league put out a statement recently calling for a halt on the
recent Regime offensive
 Pope Benedict XVI called Sunday for an adequate response to the ''legitimate aspirations'' of
the Syrian people
Only Iran continues to stand by the Assad regime, and in mid-July even announced the offering of a
massive $5.8 billion financial aid package to stabilize the isolated regime.
US – moving from ‘reform’ to ‘lost legitimacy’
While the International community increases its condemnation of Assad, it is a critical that the US
should lead, not follow, and clearly articulate a policy grounded in support of the uprising for the
International community to stand behind.
Until recently, the Obama administration has focused on asking for ‘restraint’ and ‘reform’. It took a
regime-orchestrated mob attacking the US embassy in July to finally trigger a strong response from
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicating that the US had “absolutely nothing invested in him
[Bashar] remaining in power.”
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5. With the ongoing regime offensive to quell the uprising during Ramadan, international
condemnation has intensified, and as highlighted above, even long time ‘friends’ of the Syrian
regime have provided stern warnings. The US administration is inching forward cautiously, and now
Clinton has said that Washington believes the regime is responsible for more than 2,000 deaths in
their crackdown of pro-democracy protestors and repeated that the US believes Assad has "lost his
legitimacy to govern the Syrian people".
Why this is important to the US
Syria is at the center of most US foreign policy goals in the Middle East: Syria is a key influencer in
ensuring the stability in Iraq; is at the core of both Iran and Turkey’s regional policy; is still in a state
of Cold war with Israel; and is a major stakeholder in Lebanon’s political landscape.
A democratic Syria will no doubt be in the interest of the US, especially if the Syrian people view the
US as a friend in their time in need and not a nation that stood on the sidelines while Syrians bravely
demanded freedom from a ruthless regime.
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6. What is Needed:
The US has been painfully slow in clearly demonstrating a strategy aimed at supporting the pro-
democracy aspirations of the Syrian people. It is now time to put forth the strongest condemnation
possible, and align with the pro-democracy movement in Syria.
1. Unequivocally, declare Bashar Al-Assad’s regime illegitimate and call for him to step down.
a. It is time for the US to take a firm stance and not wordsmith responses of
condemnation while leaving the door open for ‘reform’
b. The Syrian people will not accept anything but the removal of the regime, and the
opposition is maturing and will emerge to lead the nation ‘the day after’ Assad falls
2. Further sanction the regime, and the industries propping them up
a. We applaud the expanded list of targeted sanctions on members of the regime,
however Syrian oil needs to be embargoed as ~1/4 of the regime budget is derived
from this sector and is funding the military and security apparatus
 Building on this, the US will need to pressure European consumers of
Syrian oil to slash consumption of Syrian oil – while this will not make a
major impact in the worlds oil market, it will severely restrict the regimes
ability to fund the onslaught
3. Exert pressure through the United Nations (UN) to isolate the regime
a. Push for the temporary suspension of Syrian activity in the UN
b. Pressure the UN Security Council to refer Regime leaders to the International
Criminal Court (ICC)
c. Assign a special representative of the Secretary-General to go to Syria, act as a
monitor (assess humanitarian needs) and report-back to the UN
4. Pressure Turkey and Lebanon to declare Syrian civilians seeking refuge as refugees to enable
UN access to provide protection and assistance
a. The Syrian refugees in Turkey and Lebanon have been isolated from the UN/NGOs
and the rest of the world. They are currently suffering as the Turks are sequestering
them in the hopes that other refugees will not cross the border. In Lebanon, there
are numerous reports of some Lebanese factions are deporting refugees back to
Syria. As the regime becomes more desperate and more refugees cross the border,
this will turn into a humanitarian disaster
5. Showcase solidarity with pro-democracy movement by cutting or reducing diplomatic
relations
a. Take the lead by immediately expelling the Syrian Ambassador, and pressuring allies
to do the same around the world
b. Coordinate the withdrawal of foreign ambassadors from Syria while keeping a
skeleton diplomatic presence to ensure monitoring and further reiterate the world’s
rejection of the Assad regime
c. Urge for opening the nation to international media
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7. In conclusion
The Syrian people are NOT asking for military intervention. Rather, they are asking for the US to
stand by the values it preaches and to support the aspirations of the people by isolating the regime,
politically and economically.
What the Syrian people are urging the US to do is to stand on the side of history. For the Assad
regime will fall - sooner rather than later. But the Syrian blood, shed today with US acquiescence will
NOT be recovered. Nor it will be forgotten. Rather, it will stay unforgivable and haunting.
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8. Testimonials from the Syrian Revolution
Story of 13 year old Hamza Ali-Khateeb – tortured and killed by Syrian Government
Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb (October 24, 1997 – May 2011) was a 13-year-old Syrian boy who died while
in the custody of the Syrian government in Deraa during the 2011 Syrian uprising.
On April 29, 2011, he was detained during a protest. One week later, his body was delivered to his
family, having been badly bruised; along with burn marks, three gunshot wounds, and severed
genitals. Hamza's family distributed photos and video of his body to journalists and activists.
Shocked by what those depicted, thousands of people showed their support for Hamza online and
in street protests. Many news organizations described Hamza as the new symbol of the Syrian
revolution.
Hamza lived with his parents in a village called Al Jeezah or Al Giza in Daraa Governorate. He was
a seventh-grade student who enjoyed swimming and watching his collected homing pigeons fly
above his house. He had a reputation for being generous. "He would often ask his parents for
money to give to the poor. I remember once he wanted to give someone 100 Syrian Pounds ($2),
and his family said it was too much. But Hamza said, 'I have a bed and food while that guy has
nothing.' And so he persuaded his parents to give the poor man the 100," his cousin told Al Jazeera.
Hamza's family reported that he was not interested in politics, but on April 29, 2011, he joined his
family in a rally to break the siege of the city of Daraa. "Everybody seemed to be going to the
protest, so he went along as well," said his cousin. Hamza walked with friends and family 12 km
along the road from his Al Jeezah north-west to Saida. Firing began almost as the protesters reached
Saida. Hamza's cousin reported: "People were killed and wounded, some were arrested. It was
chaotic we didn't know at that point what had happened to Hamza. He just disappeared."
Sources confirmed that Hamza had been among 51 protesters detained by Air Force Intelligence,
which detainees described as having a reputation for brutal torture.
Syrian Refugees in Turkey (Stories of Umm Ahmed) as told to NPR
As Syrian troops continue their crackdown against demonstrators in the north of the country, more
Syrians are massing on the border with Turkey. Nearly 10,500 Syrians are already seeking refuge
there, and Turkish officials are scrambling to keep the situation from getting out of hand. For many
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9. of them, Turkey is the nearest safe haven, although not everyone is willing to be crammed into what
Turkish officials insist on calling "temporary tent cities" and not "refugee camps."
Umm Ahmed, 34, sits with her sister and three of her seven children in a small room where they
were taken in by relatives. Many families cross borders in this part of the world, not always by
choice." It was very scary. We wanted to stay at first, thinking we could be safe. But then we saw
men in the village had bullet wounds, and people told us the army was coming our way," she says.
"So we had to run." Fleeing is nothing new to her. She says her husband opposed the regime in the
1980s, and the family was forced to flee, that time to Iraq. Returning more than two decades later,
after Assad offered amnesty, she says her husband was arrested. His health failed in prison, and he
died soon after. Her daughters listen to this recitation of the family history without blinking. There's
no show of emotion when their mother is asked what they will do now, if this conflict drags on. She
replies with the stoicism of the powerless: Now we wait here, and we will see what our destiny will
be. Down in the valley beneath this hillside village, masses of Syrians squat in damp fields,
wondering where they will go next. Turkey has tried to project an image of being in control of a
situation that has no obvious resolution.
Syrian Army Defector (Story of Wasid) as told to The Guardian
Wasid, a Syrian conscript, set off for the southern town of Deraa in late April filled with the zeal of a
soldier going to war. "We were going to fight terrorists," he said. But less than a day after arriving
there, he was planning to defect. The Syrian regime has cast the uprising in Deraa as a conflict
between a loyal military and a large and highly mobile group of heavily-armed foreign-backed
insurgents, roaming the country attempting to ignite sectarian strife.
Over three hours in an Istanbul safehouse, Wasid, 20, described events in the southern town where
the wave of dissent that has swept Syria first broke. In the month they were stationed there, neither
Wasid nor any of his colleagues saw any demonstrators with weapons in Deraa or the nearby town
of Izraa. And instead of confronting armed insurgents, the unit was ordered to shoot protesters. In
the weeks leading up his deployment with the Syrian army's 14th Division, commanders had given
regular briefings on the "violence" ahead.
"When we were at the base in Damascus before we left for Deraa, we were not allowed to watch
television at all, except for two hours each day when we could watch Rami Makhlouf's channel," he
said. [Makhlouf, a tycoon, is Bashar al-Assad's first cousin]. "All they showed were armed groups
roaming the villages. I found out later that these groups were on our [the regime's] side – they were
the Shabiha." According to Wasid, the Shabiha – ghosts – were the only civilian gunmen in town.
Their group has strong links to the military and has developed a reputation over recent bloody
months of being willing to do the dirty work in troublesome towns and villages.
"The first day we arrived there, 24 April, the Shabiha came to the base to speak with our officers. It
was clear that the relationship was close." Wasid showed the Guardian his military ID and
application for refugee status, copies of which have been kept. He did not want his real name or
photograph used out of fear that his family may be targeted for reprisals.
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10. "I never saw an Islamist or anybody that resembled one," said Wasid. "And nor did anyone else with
me." He estimated that about 30% of his unit were disaffected with the military. But neither dissent
nor defection are easy in Syria, where conscripts are paid £6 a month. "One guy – I only know his
name as Wael, he was from the east – told an officer that what we were doing was wrong.” The next
day he was killed. They said he had been shot by terrorists."
Defections have been regularly reported during the uprising, but on a small scale.
Syrian-American singer’s family attacked in Syria, as reported on CNN
The family of the singer, Malek Jandali, a US citizen, was attacked in Syria after he performed at a
rally in Washington DC in support of the pro-democracy movement.
Regime security forces attacked Jandali's father and mother, wrecked their home in Homs, and
locked the couple in the bathroom.
“The father, Dr. Mamoun Jandali, 73, was carrying groceries from his car to his home in
Homs when a man grabbed him from behind and asked him to help care for someone who
had been injured, Jandali told CNN Friday in a telephone interview from Orlando, Florida.
When the doctor agreed to do so, the man spoke into his cell phone and said to bring the
patient. Moments later, two other men showed up unaccompanied by any patient. They
handcuffed the doctor, covered his mouth and nose with duct tape, then took him upstairs,
Jandali said. The musician's 66-year-old mother, Linah, was in bed.
"All of a sudden, she finds two men attacking her while the guy was holding my dad and
ordering the other two to beat my mom in the head and eyes," Jandali said. "My dad, he
couldn't do anything other than watch this atrocity."
The three men broke his mother's teeth and beat his father, then locked them both in their
bathroom and ransacked the house, their son said. After the attackers had departed, the
father, who had held on to his cell phone throughout the ordeal, called relatives. He had to
call security forces to remove his handcuffs.”
About the National Alliance for Syria (NAFS)
NAFS is a network of Syrian-Americans; activists, community groups, organizations all dedicated to
creation and development of a democratic Syria, free from sectarian privileges, a nation to represent
the people, equally. For more information, please visit www.AllianceForSyria.org.
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