Affirming U.S. Commitments Abroad: The View from Syria’s Democratic Council

Media www.rajawalisiber.com – After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, allies and adversaries alike are wondering about other American commitments in the region. In Syria, where several hundred U.S. troops remain on the ground, Kurds and their local Arab allies have been steadfast partners in the fight against the Islamic State. Yet they face urgent challenges from others on the scene, including Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime.

To discuss the current state of play and answer questions about this key strategic arena, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with Syrian Democratic Council head Elham Ahmad, who will be joined by two leading experts for brief remarks: David Ignatius and Andrew Tabler. Institute fellow David Pollock will moderate the session.

Elham Ahmad is president of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council, the governing body of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. She is also a veteran campaigner and widely published advocate for Kurdish democracy and women’s rights.

Andrew Tabler, the Martin J. Gross Fellow at The Washington Institute, recently served as a senior advisor in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and director for Syria on the National Security Council. His publications include the 2011 book In the Lion’s Den, an in-depth investigation of the Assad regime.

David Pollock is the Institute’s Bernstein Fellow, with a special interest in Kurdish issues and public opinion polling. He has published widely on various regional topics, including a recent article about U.S. policy options in the aftermath of Afghanistan.

Note: Ms. Ahmad’s remarks will be in Arabic with the option of simultaneous English translation.

This event will only be viewable on Zoom with preregistration. It will not be livestreamed.

Register to watch this event live on Zoom.