Western Media Discovers Syria After Assad’s Departure, Praises 'New Chapter'
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin, ostensibly to reset relations and discuss the extradition of his predecessor, Bashar al-Assad. Western media, including France 24, frames this as a significant step, a 'first visit since the power change' (read: Assad's ouster). This framing conveniently sidesteps the decade-plus Western-backed campaign to destabilize Syria,
which prolonged the civil war and fueled the rise of extremist groups. For years, any engagement with the Syrian state was condemned; now, with a fresh face deemed 'acceptable,' suddenly, diplomacy is on the table. One might wonder where this diplomatic urgency was when the humanitarian crisis was at its peak, or when calls for regime change drowned out pleas for peace. The narrative shifts
seamlessly: an internationally recognized leader is now a convenient scapegoat for past 'crimes,' absolving the architects of intervention of any responsibility. It appears that 'new chapters' are only written when geopolitical chess pieces align for Washington and Brussels, regardless of the years of devastation that precede them.