Requiem siriano: La guerra civile e i suoi effetti

by Itamar Rabinovich, Carmit Valensi, Mario Capello (Translator)

Itamar Rabinovich è stato il principale negoziatore di Israele con la Siria nella metà degli anni Novanta, ed è un esperto di politica del Medio Oriente. Basandosi su più di duecento interviste con varie personalità e testimoni, Rabinovich e Valensi valutano il ruolo svolto dagli interessi locali, regionali e globali nella guerra. Le locali divisioni settarie hanno stabilito le linee di frattura del conflitto iniziale, che alla fine ha visto l’ascesa del brutale Stato Islamico. La Siria è diventata rapidamente il palcoscenico di una guerra per procura tra le potenze della regione, tra cui Israele, Turchia e Iran. E, mentre gli esausti Stati Uniti tentavano di ridurre il loro coinvolgimento militare in Medio Oriente, la Russia riguadagnava un’influenza nella regione dando sostegno alle forze governative siriane.

Genres: History, Middle East, Nonfiction

242 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2022

Reviews

[Kate Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focuses almost exclusively on broad-strokes politics. Useful as a quick orientation piece, introducing the various actors and how they fit together. Very little concrete about specific events, military or otherwise, however, and hardly anything about civilians at all.

[Count Gravlax · Rating 4 out of 5]

An at the same time dry and riveting history of the ongoing civil war. I would however criticise the fact that Rabinovitch downplays the US and Israel's participation in the conflict. At no moment the words "Timber Sycamore" appear in the book, even though this was the weapons supply program run by the CIA for the benefit of a number of opposition groups in Syria, including Islamists groups. The book also does not tackle indications that Israel provided logistical and medical supports to extremists groups such as Al-Nusra, claims supported by even a former head of the Mossad.

I'm a realist and I don't think that the Syrian Civil War will end with everybody holding hands and making peace. Someone will win, and I rather have that someone be pro-Western and pro-Israel than the mess that the Assad government is. But historical analysis is different from a propaganda piece, and the former must be clear and sincere in its observations. So, if you wish to read this book, do - but be aware of the writer's bias.

[SpaceBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed if slightly dry account of the Syrian war, focussing mostly on the foreign policies of key actors (Syria, US, Russia, Iran, Israel), as well as discussions of the internal alliances that held up the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Relatively little on the humanitarian crisis or conduct of the war.

[Christian Gacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre de synthèse assez intéressant et peu biaisé. Un bon moyen pour faire le point sur cette guerre sans fin.

[amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

icky, like why.

[FellowBibliophile KvK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb overview of the course and the players of the pre-2024 Syrian Civil War.