Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect

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Based on first-hand reporting from Syria and Washington, journalist Reese Erlich unravels the complex dynamics underlying the Syrian civil war. Through vivid, on-the-ground accounts and interviews with both rebel leaders and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Erlich gives the reader a better understanding of this momentous power struggle and why it matters. Through his many contacts inside Syria, the author reveals who is supporting Assad and why; he describes the agendas of the rebel factions; and he depicts in stark terms the dire plight of many ordinary Syrian people caught in the cross-fire. The book also provides insights into the role of the Kurds, the continuing influence of Iran, and the policies of American leaders who seem interested only in protecting US regional interests. Disturbing and enlightening at once, this timely book shows you not only what is happening inside Syria but why it is so important for the Middle East, the US, and the world. From the Hardcover edition.Review"Erlich…clearly and succinctly explains Syria’s current political and military stalemate in this important, informative, and well researched book.... Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the current turmoil in the Middle East."—Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW “Reese Erlich takes you Inside Syria with the kind of clarity that only a superb journalist can provide. This book is a tour de force, demolishing clichés and replacing them with realities of what the hell is going on in Syria—and why. The result is a gripping narrative that combines unvarnished history with immediate truth about Syria’s present-day.”—Norman Solomon, author of War Made Easy  “The most useful and up-to-date analysis of the complex internal dynamics of Syria today. . . . [It] destroys many of the simplistic stereotypes prevalent in the American conventional wisdom. . . . United States policy makers should view Erlich’s masterful narrative as required reading. Had his book been available before the current violence in Syria erupted, the world might have been much wiser.”—William O. Beeman, Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota “Veteran journalist Reese Erlich, who knows Syria well, has written what may be the definitive account thus far of both foreign and domestic factors shaping its descent into fratricidal war. With the inclusion of important historical background, interviews from inside the country, and insights into the motivations of policy makers in Washington and elsewhere, the result is thorough and balanced reporting in which few come out looking good.” —Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and coordinator of Middle Eastern studies, University of San Francisco “Erlich . . . has a rare gift for placing the human drama into its larger historical context, deftly introducing the reader to the many worlds that make up Syrian society. . . . Anyone who wants a quick but sophisticated primer on the Syrian Civil War should start here.”—Joshua Landis, director, Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma “A deeply readable and informative book that is particularly wise about the economic undercurrents beneath what more-superficial writers see merely as political or religious tensions. A fine introduction to one of today’s most terrible tragedies.”—Adam Hochschild, author of To End All Wars and King Leopold’s Ghost“Read this book and you will receive an in-depth, objective, and truly fair understanding of what is taking place in the Middle East at this moment. We need Reese Erlich in the mass media.”—Peter Coyote, actor, author of Sleeping Where I FallAbout the Author**Reese Erlich is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books on foreign policy, most recently Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence and Empire. In 2012, the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California, gave Erlich its best explanatory journalism award for his radio documentary entitled “Inside the Syrian Revolution.” In 2006 Erlich shared a prestigious Peabody award. Currently, he works as a fulltime, freelance journalist and holds the position of special correspondent with GlobalPost. He also reports regularly for National Public Radio, Radio Deutsche Welle, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, and CBS Radio News. His articles on the Middle East have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, GlobalPost, Atlantic Online, and Vanity Fair Online.