{"id":6827,"date":"2024-12-08T08:23:29","date_gmt":"2024-12-08T14:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/?p=6827"},"modified":"2024-12-25T23:00:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T05:00:10","slug":"6827","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/2024\/12\/08\/6827\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

It is this type of sudden ending, with fleeing, disaster, possible death, that keeps some despots from giving up power.\u00a0 This is part of what has gone through the Supreme Leader\u2019s mind every day since even before the Revolution, certainly since he lost control of his right arm.\u00a0 Now he has another right arm to worry about, his main ally and friend Assad is gone and Syria is suddenly seemingly gone.\u00a0 \u00a0See \u201cSyria latest: Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad’s fall as his whereabouts remain unknown,\u201d<\/a> AP, 12-8-24.\u00a0 Syria\u2019s collapse certainly weakens Iran\u2019s control more than probably anything since 1979.<\/p>\n

It is not clear yet how Assad left his plane near Homs and arrived at the Khmeimim Air Base, SE of Latakia.\u00a0 There was roughly a half day of uncertainty among the public and news outlets worldwide where he was.\u00a0 Nor is it clear yet why he abandoned his suitor Iran and opted for Russia, but it is probably because of the long-standing deep relationship including that of his father in doing Russia\u2019s bidding in the Middle East, pre-dating Iran\u2019s sway over Syria.\u00a0 Russia had more to lose by his talking or his death.\u00a0 But Russia knew his exit plans.\u00a0 See \u201cRussia says Assad has fled country as plane disappears from radar,\u201d<\/a> Telegraph, 12-8-24.\u00a0\u00a0And see \u201cAssad arrives in Moscow, is granted asylum by Russia,\u201d<\/a> Fox, 12-8-24.\u00a0\u00a0Finally, Russia may be cutting some loses, at least for the present, by partially withdrawing from Syria, from the airbase and their Tartus port.\u00a0 Assad apparently was on a transport to Moscow.\u00a0 See \u201cSyrian rebels reportedly capture Jableh, city near Russia\u2019s Khmeimim Air Base,\u201d<\/a> Meduza, 12-8-24.<\/p>\n

\u201cKhamenei Loses Everything,\u201d<\/a> The Atlantic, 12-8-24.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is this type of sudden ending, with fleeing, disaster, possible death, that keeps some despots from giving up power.\u00a0 This is part of what has gone through the Supreme Leader\u2019s mind every day since even before the Revolution, certainly since he lost control of his right arm.\u00a0 Now he has another right arm to … <\/p>\n

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