Brian Carter

our policy has been, what our assumptions have been. And I think it's leading to a lot of risk around China.

our policy has been, what our assumptions have been. And I think it's leading to a lot of risk around China.

our policy has been, what our assumptions have been. And I think it's leading to a lot of risk around China.

Thanks for having me.

Thanks for having me.

Thanks for having me.

I don't know how badly this will impact the region yet, but Assad is definitely in big trouble. And I think one of the things that we have to look at as we watch the regime sort of collapse and crumble is what other groups are going to take advantage of this situation and exploit it to their own ends. So for me, the big one to watch is going to be ISIS.

I don't know how badly this will impact the region yet, but Assad is definitely in big trouble. And I think one of the things that we have to look at as we watch the regime sort of collapse and crumble is what other groups are going to take advantage of this situation and exploit it to their own ends. So for me, the big one to watch is going to be ISIS.

I don't know how badly this will impact the region yet, but Assad is definitely in big trouble. And I think one of the things that we have to look at as we watch the regime sort of collapse and crumble is what other groups are going to take advantage of this situation and exploit it to their own ends. So for me, the big one to watch is going to be ISIS.

which has really grown in strength in some of the regime areas, such as the central Syrian desert, in the past couple of years. And I think that will have big impacts for the main U.S. priority in Syria for the past 10 years now, which has been the defeat of ISIS.

which has really grown in strength in some of the regime areas, such as the central Syrian desert, in the past couple of years. And I think that will have big impacts for the main U.S. priority in Syria for the past 10 years now, which has been the defeat of ISIS.

which has really grown in strength in some of the regime areas, such as the central Syrian desert, in the past couple of years. And I think that will have big impacts for the main U.S. priority in Syria for the past 10 years now, which has been the defeat of ISIS.

So I'll start with the big one, Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham, which is the main opposition group that is conducting the offensive in kind of the north and western areas of Syria right now. So it was created by a man named Abu Muhammad Jolani.

So I'll start with the big one, Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham, which is the main opposition group that is conducting the offensive in kind of the north and western areas of Syria right now. So it was created by a man named Abu Muhammad Jolani.

So I'll start with the big one, Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham, which is the main opposition group that is conducting the offensive in kind of the north and western areas of Syria right now. So it was created by a man named Abu Muhammad Jolani.

Jolani grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq as an al-Qaeda guy, and he eventually took over the branch in Syria as al-Qaeda in Iraq began to transition in the Islamic State. He broke away from the Islamic State and pledged baya, or allegiance, to Zohiri, al-Qaeda's leader at the time.

Jolani grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq as an al-Qaeda guy, and he eventually took over the branch in Syria as al-Qaeda in Iraq began to transition in the Islamic State. He broke away from the Islamic State and pledged baya, or allegiance, to Zohiri, al-Qaeda's leader at the time.

Jolani grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq as an al-Qaeda guy, and he eventually took over the branch in Syria as al-Qaeda in Iraq began to transition in the Islamic State. He broke away from the Islamic State and pledged baya, or allegiance, to Zohiri, al-Qaeda's leader at the time.

However, over the years, he's kind of tried to moderate himself and has begun to present himself less as a Salafi jihadi like Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State and more of what we call a political jihadist. He's not interested or he says he's not interested in external attacks outside of Syria. And instead, in recent years, has put a lot of effort into fighting

However, over the years, he's kind of tried to moderate himself and has begun to present himself less as a Salafi jihadi like Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State and more of what we call a political jihadist. He's not interested or he says he's not interested in external attacks outside of Syria. And instead, in recent years, has put a lot of effort into fighting