Bashar's Biographer & U.S. Presidential Advisor Tells Inside Story | S4E24

History Behind News Program

"I could see him become much more comfortable with power."

Did you know that Syrians welcomed Bashar al-Assad as "a breath of fresh air" when he initially assumed power?

My guest, Dr. David Lesch, has visited Syria 35 times. In 15 of those visits, he met with Mr. Assad to write his biography. But after the biography was published, Mr. Assad invited Dr. Lesch back for more meetings!

What you may find amazing about Dr. Lesch's meetings with Mr. Assad is the wide latitude he enjoyed in his conversations with Syria's president - he could essentially ask him whatever he wanted, including whether or not Mr. Assad ordered the killing of a certain foreign leader.

In this interview, Dr. Lesch tells us the story behind the story, and we also talk about the following:

• transition from Hafez to Bashar
• Bashar: Syria's hope
• Syria's lost hope - the turning point for Bashar
• The Alawites
• Syria's obsession with the Golan Heights
• A 2012 prediction that the House of Assad will fall?

***** 🚩About My Guest:

Dr. David W. Lesch is the Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History in the Department of History at Trinity University. He received his PhD in Middle East History from Harvard University. He has had 17 books published on a variety of Middle East topics and has over 140 publications overall.

Dr. Lesch has advised the White House in the last four US presidential administrations, from President George W. Bush to President Biden. He has consistently met with and advised high-level officials in Europe, the Middle East, and the United Nations on diplomatic issues. He has appeared frequently on national and international television and radio news programs, and he has appeared in over fifteen documentaries. He is also on the board of a number of organizations dealing with the Middle East or international affairs.

Links to several of Dr. Lesch's books:

1. Syria: A Modern History
2. Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad
3. The New Lion of Damascus: Bashar al-Asad and Modern Syria

***** Dr. Abla Hasan:

Love & Romance In Syria & Rest of Arab World.

I hope you enjoy these episodes.

Adel, host & producer

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