Perspectives on Syria

Insight: Conversations with today’s leading thinkers (American Abroad Media)

After more than a year of conflict, the violence in Syria is finally being recognized as a civil war. This weekend, world powers are preparing for a high-level meeting that the US hopes will be a turning point in the Syria crisis. To discuss the international community’s search for solutions and the goals of protesters, AAM sits down with Ammar Abdulhamid, a leading Syrian human rights and pro-democracy activist, and fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.  Continue reading “Perspectives on Syria”

From glasnost to the Arab Spring

American Enterprise Institute – From glasnost to the Arab Spring: the moral foundation of anti-authoritarian revolutions.

Ammar Abdulhamid: Death But Not Humiliation 

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1

Continue reading “From glasnost to the Arab Spring”

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.”

Syrian Expats Lend Support to Protests From Abroad

Quoted by Jeff Swicord, VOA

For many Syrian dissidents scattered around the world, the anti-government backlash in Syria is bittersweet.  They support political change at home, but they are horrified by the government’s brutal crackdown.

From the basement office of his home in the U.S., Ammar Abdulhamid does his part to support what he calls the Syrian revolution.  Like many Syrian expatriates, Abdulhamid keeps in regular contact with people inside the country, following events and forwarding what he learns through his blog: Syrian Revolution Digest. Continue reading “Syrian Expats Lend Support to Protests From Abroad”