Syria’s Revolution: An Interview with Ammar Abdulhamid

Interviewed by Barry Rubin, PJ Media

(Ammar Abdulhamid has been the most articulate and credible voice of the Syrian opposition and the movement to overthrow the current regime. Barry Rubin interviewed him to get a clearer view on what’s going on in Syria and on what the future prospects are for the bloody conflict.) Continue reading “Syria’s Revolution: An Interview with Ammar Abdulhamid”

Syrian Ceasefire Lasts Just Six Hours

Quoted by Rick Dewsbury, The Daily Mail – UK

Ammar Abdulhamid, an influential Syrian human rights activist, told Fox News that given Assad’s habit of breaking promises ‘there was no reason for anyone to be surprised by the turn of events.’ Abdulhamid, who fled Syria in 2005 and has since lived in the U.S. said members of the main opposition groups, representing all political and religious backgrounds, helped draw up the new six-point plan.

Many Skeptical Syria Cease-Fire Will Hold

 Quoted by Jeff Swicord, VOA

“We wanted to give them a little time despite the fact that so many people are dying on the ground and in the streets that it is necessary to give the international community some time to find out if diplomacy is not going to work,” explained Syrian activist Ammar Abdulhamid. … Some in the opposition say that neither diplomacy nor military force alone will bring down the Assad government.  Ammar Abdulhamid says they must be used together. “When there is an actual threat of force or force being used, I think then we might see the possibility of the Assads listening because they can see a threat,” Abdulhamid added.  “They can see the seriousness of the international community.  They don’t just hear words.”

The hunt for ‘plan B’ – planning for ‘the day after’ in Syria

A mention in CNN Security Blog:

Syrian activist Ammar Abdulhamid, a fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington, is trying to bridge the gap between the exiles and those Syrians on the ground. He’s bringing together small groups of Syrian experts to brainstorm ideas for a transition, which he is feeding to opposition groups on the ground in Syria who the United States is now trying to reach. “We don’t have a political agenda and aren’t tabling a plan,” Abdulhamid said. “This is to raise public awareness and highlight the issues we are going to be facing once Assad falls. There needs to be a public debate and we want to empower Syrians to do that.”