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This episode is brought to you by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. FDD is a nonpartisan research institute dedicated to advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security. Founded in the wake of the 9-11 attacks by Cliff May, FDD has become a powerhouse for shaping some of America's most critical foreign policy debates. Their mission?
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Today, FDD tracks the courageous protests in Iran, where citizens risk their lives opposing the regime. Under the leadership of their CEO and my friend Mark Dubowitz, FDD continues to amplify these voices for freedom and devises ways for the West to support them. I encourage you to learn more about FDD's vital work at fdd.org and consider supporting their mission.
From the Free Press, this is Honestly. I'm Michael Moynihan.
The Syrian government apparently has fallen after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted into the capital of Damascus.
Last week marked a historic turning point in Syria.
After 13 years of civil war in Syria, More than half a century of brutal authoritarian rule by Bashir Assad and his father before him. Rebel forces have forced Assad to resign his office and flee the country. Assad's private residence ransacked with furniture overturned, items strewn everywhere. An opposition fighter spotted sitting inside this office at the presidential palace.
For decades, the Assad dynasty ruled through unimaginable violence, launching chemical attacks on civilians, silencing dissent with mass imprisonment and torture, and presiding over a civil war that killed an estimated 600,000 people and drove 13 million into exile.
The freedom for Syria, we pay a huge, huge price for that.
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