Creative Chaos: Inside the CIA's Covert War to Topple the Syrian Government

by William Van Wagenen

In Creative Chaos, journalist and author William Van Wagenen tells the real story behind the U.S. and Israeli origins of Syria's so-called "civil war" of 2011-2016 which led to the takeover of the country by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) in 2024.

The book examines the U.S.’s role in instigating an al Qaeda-led insurgency against the Syrian government, in collaboration with regional powers, including Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Genres: History, Politics

425 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Nicholas Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, well sourced, and easy enough for a layman to follow the storyline. The author has been reporting on Syria since well before this book came out and the information is laid out very convincingly.

[Nolan Denaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an unbelievably detailed account of the criminal regime change effort orchestrated by Obama against the Assad regime. This conflict has had major consequences that have forever altered the region, and it is important we truly understand it. William Van Wagenen did spectacular work with this book, and I would highly recommend it to any foreign policy nerd like myself!