Genug mit dem Handwringing: Al-Sharaa ist besser als Assad

Despite Syria’s new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s engaging in global outreach and dropping the camo fatigues, David Schenker says in [***The Caravan***](https://read.hoover.org/e3t/Ctc/2P+113/d5ch4504/VWmRDw5bLWzgW5fBvf14dtz52W7FnbcL5t3KvJN3ypqFF3qgyTW7lCdLW6lZ3l-W6rBDsz36_M3xW3QbJWQ8WDby7W7Wbrdg4HMd2HW6yqk2n5T2mnCW9bWzqV8xfbGjW8yJKKP3cgN6BW3jqhzb2QM8YvW7gVDxx1FmJPNW6WzD0Y390nc2W5zgkQm5b21XxW97-7jZ8wW_l6W26GRPQ8GlxWlW5FMWS41DPVnhW7qPjPT5RGcXNW8h4dxr85TBCPW51kQ-c6gB_NNW2Dt1kB4M7yVYW3QkhH17xKgQcW4_Zmys5cLZqCW3JmRwc4PXY8gN15xs0Y43SNlW6RFDTN20MQ6XW60tHKj1H9gWPVqVJKQ8WxCnjf4SfndC04) that “he remains an Islamist and likely an authoritarian.” Nonetheless, Schenker argues, there are advantages to US policy in the region associated with al-Sharaa’s rise to power. Syria can no longer host Iranian proxies and Quds Force operatives, Russia’s presence in the country is set to end, and the country as a whole no longer poses a military threat to any of its neighbors. Aid and the presence of US troops could persuade more positive behavior from al-Sharaa’s government. But Schenker writes that the Trump administration’s reported “hesitance” to offer the new Syrian government any aid, as well as its desire to remove US troops from eastern Syria “could limit US tools going forward.”

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It’s clear that Assad was quite hated, but Al-Sharaa promised a lot of unity, so those who participated in the violence should be brought to justice. It does seem some arrests have been made, so that is at least a step Assad would never take.

I’m really confused with the Trump administration’s total disregard for Syria and the DRC, both of which are actively trying to get US attention which could result in really favorable deals or agreements for us. Yet he just ignores them.

It’s just too early to say for sure. I’m going to wait until they hold a legitimate election at least.