Jeremy Bowen

The country itself ceased to be the arbiter of its own affairs during the war when a lot of foreign countries intervened in what was going on, not least the neighbors. And I think that one of the big questions for the future of Syria, and a lot of Syrians have said to me, but for goodness sake, the rest of the world, just leave us alone.

The country itself ceased to be the arbiter of its own affairs during the war when a lot of foreign countries intervened in what was going on, not least the neighbors. And I think that one of the big questions for the future of Syria, and a lot of Syrians have said to me, but for goodness sake, the rest of the world, just leave us alone.

This country is really, large areas are absolutely destroyed. Over the years, I've traveled extensively around it. And really, wherever you go, I mean, there are some areas, say north of Hama, every village, every town is rubble. Large parts of the suburbs of Damascus are rubble. So how on earth, I mean, to rebuild would be billions and billions and billions.

This country is really, large areas are absolutely destroyed. Over the years, I've traveled extensively around it. And really, wherever you go, I mean, there are some areas, say north of Hama, every village, every town is rubble. Large parts of the suburbs of Damascus are rubble. So how on earth, I mean, to rebuild would be billions and billions and billions.

So if the Gulf oil states got involved, the Saudis or the Emiratis, Well, they wouldn't want to just give them money. They would want something in return for that. So I think perhaps it is a bit of a pipe dream to hope that Syria will be left alone.

So if the Gulf oil states got involved, the Saudis or the Emiratis, Well, they wouldn't want to just give them money. They would want something in return for that. So I think perhaps it is a bit of a pipe dream to hope that Syria will be left alone.

The question is whether countries want to use it, if you like, as a boxing ring for their own quarrels with other countries or whether they do try to make this into a stable, better place.

The question is whether countries want to use it, if you like, as a boxing ring for their own quarrels with other countries or whether they do try to make this into a stable, better place.