The day after in Syria
Following revolutions, we Americans have a touching inclination to ask: “Are the new leaders like us? Are they moderates who believe in tolerance and peaceful coexistence?”
Generally, the answer is no.
Take the revolution that just occurred in Syria. It was led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. He runs Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebel group with roots in both al Qaeda and the Islamic State (also known as ISIS). He and HTS have been officially designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.







