Anyone but Assad; and a Woman not a Man
by Ayman Hakki
Over a decade ago Syrians rose peacefully to ask for political reform–not regime change–in Syria. The regime responded with force and cunning. They let hard line Islamists out for prison, and clamped down on moderates. This fit into a well thought out plan to label all opposing forces Islamists, and the opposition responded thoughtlessly. Today, at unspeakable costs, the regime still stands and the opposition is in disarray. How much of it is due to regime cunning, and how much can be linked to opposition obtuseness, is irrelevant, Non-Syrian forces, more powerful than both parties, are at play. It’s high time Syrians put forth an alternative to Assad. This must be done, and women not men should do it.
The US claiming-no suitable partner-has done nothing, while Russia-fearing a repeat of the Libyan debacle-responded forcefully, Iran-seeing an opening to further its encroachment on the fertile crescent-lent the regime infantry in the form of its vassal Hezbollah and its Revolutionary guard, while Turkey-obsessed with its Kurdish problem-supported Islamist proxies. This empowered the regime and nearly decimated its opposition. Today US backed Kurdish forces occupy the Northeast, Turkish supported Islamists rule the Northwest, and Syrians, caught between chose flight. Internal and external migrations displaced millions, while the regime killed tortured and detained hundreds of thousands.
The first step in reversing this dynamic must be opposition reconcilement, followed by choosing a leader who can speak to the US on behalf of Syrians. A leader who is neither Islamist nor anti-Islamist. The path forward is clear. UN Resolution 2254 calls for a transitional period followed by reform reconciliation then reconstruction. Both the US and Russia are signatories to this resolution, though they disagree on how to implement it. Multiple Constitutional Conferences have been held with the regime dragging its feet and the opposition incapable of coaxing the powers that be to intervene and push the regime towards a constitutional reform that allows the rule of law, not the corrupt rule of the regime, to reign.
Choosing a leader that most (if not all) anti-regime activists can designate to speak on their behalf, is of the utmost importance. The time to do it is now, but how to do it unclear. The White House must step up, assist in this task. In keeping with its inclusionary mandate it must bring together a task force that relies mostly on Syrian American women. Women who can put forth names better suited for this task than the men who the administration have been working with. As a Syrian American man myself, I’m not suggesting that women alone should embark on this journey. I’m just stating a fact; we men have tried and we have failed. Its high time we encourage women to try, then we will do our part on their behalf. The next leader of Syria must be approved of by the Syrian people, but at first she must be found.