Richard A. Clarke, former U.S. national coordinator for counterterrorism and author of AGAINST ALL ENEMIES
"Leverett parts the veil to show us the complex workings of this state sponsor of terror . . ."
Itamar Rabinovich, President, Tel Aviv University
"This is a well-balanced assessment of Bashar and his regime, offering a thoughtful analysis and critique of U.S. policy . . ."
Dennis B. Ross, Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former special Middle East coordinator
"For anyone interested in understanding Syria today and considering the options for dealing with it, this book is essential reading."
George J. Tenet, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and former Director of Central Intelligence
"[T]his is a well-written and solidly argued book that could not be more timely."
Book Description
Syria has long been a paradox for U.S. Policymakers. The country’s weak economy, diverse population, and vulnerable geographic position would be expected to minimize its clout in the Greater Middle East. But under long-time dictator Hafiz al-Asad and his son and successor Bashar, Syria has been and continues to be a major regional actor. Syria occupies an important strategic position in the Middle East, one made even more significant as American considers long-term involvement in the reconstruction of neighboring Iraq. Syria has cultivated numerous Lebanese clients and allies—most notably Hizballah—during its more than twenty-year occupation of Lebanon. Damascus, which sees Israel as a hegemonic power, remains intransigent on Israel’s complete withdrawal from the disputed Golan Heights as the sine qua non for peace with that state. Since the death of Hafiz al-Asad in 2000 and the transfer of power to Bashar, debate on Syria’s place in the region has been renewed. The policy challenges posed by Syria’s problematic behavior on a number of fronts have grown more pressing in the present security environment, and the United States has had difficulty formulating a coherent and effective policy toward Damascus. Western consensus on how to deal with the Syrian leadership has been thrown further into doubt. Inheriting Syria fills this void with a detailed analytic portrait of the Syrian regime under the leadership of the Asad dynasty and the strategic legacy bequeathed from father to son. It draws implications for U.S. policy, offering a bold new strategy for achieving American objectives, largely via a "conditional engagement" employing both carrots and sticks. This strategy would be independent of the Arab-Israeli peace process and thus a historical departure for the United States. A highly readable analysis of Bashar al-Asad’s ascendancy and approach to rule, Inheriting Syria provides valuable insights to anyone concerned with events in the Middle East, the war on terror, and the future of American foreign policy. It is an important resource for all who seek deeper understanding of this enigmatic nation and its leadership.
About the Author
Flynt Leverett is a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. He has served as senior director for Middle East affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, on the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, and as a senior Middle East analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency.
Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Itamar Rabinovich
Flynt Leverett is a 'country specialist' in the best sense of the term. He is thoroughly familiar with Syria's politics and policies as well as the ins and outs of the U.S.-Syrian relationship. This is a well-balanced assessment of Bashar and his regime, offering a thoughtful analysis and critique of U.S. policy as well as alternative options. — President, Tel Aviv University
Richard A. Clarke
Leverett parts the veil to show us the complex workings of this state sponsor of terror, possessor of WMD, and important player in determining the future of the Middle East. From peace for Israel to the security of U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria has a veto. Leverett shows how the unlikely leader in Damascus is struggling with the strange regime his father built. — former U.S. national coordinator for counterterrorism and author of Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror
Dennis B. Ross
Bashar al-Asad's Syria has remained a mystery to most observers. Flynt Leverett's book begins to unravel the mystery. He offers an insightful picture of who the younger Asad is; how he seeks to follow the 'script' he inherited from his father; which political, familial, psychological, sectarian, and bureaucratic factors constrain him; and what approaches by the United States might most effectively alter Bashar's behavior and the balance of forces in Syria. For anyone interested in understanding Syria today and considering the options for dealing with it, this book is essential reading. — Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former special Middle East coordinator
George J. Tenet
When I served as Director of Central Intelligence, Flynt Leverett was one of my 'go-to' analysts on the Middle East, particularly Syria. In 1996, his forthright analysis helped U.S. policymakers walk Israel and Syria back from the brink of armed conflict. He now brings that same analytic acumen and historical perspective to the difficult choices facing the United States. No matter what your point of view, this is a well-written and solidly argued book that could not be more timely. — Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and former Director of Central Intelligence
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