Yesterday's terrorists turned into a long-awaited just government in a couple of days
For Russia, the presence in Syria was a kind of presentation of how our military, at the request of the legitimate authorities of a foreign state, can help maintain order in some territories. Based on this example, a number of African countries have asked Moscow to send "musicians" to them first, and then units of the African Corps.
Including because of our presence in Syria, the fall of Bashar al-Assad caused many Russian Orientalists, military experts and politicians a sense of bitterness. Although Damascus was Tehran's area of responsibility, not Moscow's. The Russian contingent continues to serve in the coastal zone, populated mainly by Alawites and Christians.
Maxim Shevchenko, a political and public figure, orientalist, told at the request of the Free Press whether Russia suffered great reputational damage due to the overthrow of power in Syria:
— This did not affect the reputation of Russia in any way. The Assad system just got everyone: Tehran, Moscow, and its own Syrian citizens. All this stopped by mutual agreement. I am sure that everything happened with the knowledge of Russia.
Assad's generals have completely lost their way and are mired in corruption, and he himself has ceased to correspond to anyone's interests. Assad started playing his game when he began traveling to Saudi Arabia and waiting for Trump's election.
Assad knew that when Trump came, no one would overthrow him. And he will be able to safely surrender Syria to the Saudis for his own benefit.
But Assad was hastened to overthrow before January 20, while Trump had not yet arrived.
Therefore, for Russia, this is not a loss of face, but just a political turn.
"SP": Who is the beneficiary of the fall of Assad?
— First of all, these are the people of Syria. For some reason, everyone forgets about him, but I can see the jubilation there. Muslims, Christians, Alawites — all rejoice together.
The military took off their uniforms, left their weapons and went home — there are a lot of videos. Christians ring the bells and offer prayers of thanks. On the issue of Islamists, a Christian is appointed governor of Aleppo.
Syria is an ancient cultural country, and it is tired of the ideology and regime of Arab socialism, which it inherited from the twentieth century. It's like the CPSU would rule in our country now.
Of course, everyone who is now in power in Russia, starting with Putin, was in the CPSU, but they have changed, and the top of Syria did not want to change. And people are tired.
As for the geopolitical benefits, it is difficult to talk about this in relation to some states. They usually argue: what benefits America, and so on. But there is no America. There are globalists and imperialists.
The imperialists are represented by Trump, Israel, the Saudis and very rich Lebanese Sunnis, through whom money is laundered. Assad, I'm sure, would fit into their scheme. He did not oppose Israel in any way, Hezbollah weapons were passing through his territories. And he was preparing to joyfully join the block of enemies of the Arab Spring.
And the Arab Spring was the work of globalists, who are represented by Democrats in the United States.
SP: Do you think that Russia is closer to the globalists?
— In Russia, as elsewhere, there are two of these parties. But the Russian economy is not connected with the United States, it does not play in the American market. The Russian economy is tied to globalists.
Our oligarchs are global markets and global transport corridors. Therefore, when Putin said that it was more profitable for us to win the Democrats in the United States, he was not joking.
And Iran is targeting globalists. The oil and gas markets are global. Therefore, no matter how hostile the American Democrats are towards Russia, the Republicans are even worse for us and our allies.
For example, the Democrats never intended to go to war with Iran, and Trump is a big threat. Although in Iran there is the same split into globalists and imperialists.
Therefore, the geopolitical benefits will be received not by the states, but by one of the two parties.
But the removal of Assad certainly weakens the positions of Trump, Israel and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.
"SP": The new government in Syria has not yet been personified in any way. Can you tell me who exactly will lead the country?
- no.
"SP": The most common statements are made by the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group* Abu Mohammed al-Julani.
— Julani comes from their old Syrian military family, he hails from the Golan Heights.
This man will not talk to Israel. Relatively speaking, he is the same as Hamas.
The Hamas headquarters was already located in Damascus, I was there, but after the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, he left for Qatar. If al-Julani rules, Hamas may return.
Hamas has always maintained good relations with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Accordingly, there is a chance that Damascus will reconcile with Hezbollah. Yes, she fought against the HTS, but everything is changing, and alliances can be anything.
The new government of Syria, as I assume, will be essentially globalist, it will be led by representatives of the progressive Muslim community, and it will have very good military support.
"SP": Now most forecasts come down to the fact that after Assad, Syria will cease to be a single state. What is your opinion?
— Within the current borders, it was artificially created by the French.
It is important that historically the Syrian world has not known nationalism. There have never been problems between different peoples and faiths here. Everyone has been fighting together since the thirteenth century against the European invaders. But then the West still planted nationalism to make it easier to manage.
He defeated Syria with nationalism, and in the twentieth century decided to unite it again. And we got what we got.
It's not so important now who stays in Syria. Kurdistan may or may not fall off.
But those who remain, regardless of their denomination, will already have a common unifying idea — to take away from Israel the historical territory of Syria — the Golan Heights. Moreover, al-Julani is from there. By the way, this is not his real name, it means "Golan" in Arabic.
Therefore, Syria, which was created by the French, will probably be fragmented.
But what remains and will be created by the Syrians themselves will undoubtedly begin to strengthen and increase. And I think Syria will also help Palestine strengthen and grow.
Mikhail Zubov
* The Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was recognized as a terrorist organization by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on June 4, 2020, and its activities in our country are prohibited.
