White House Praises 'Historic' Syrian Leader, Forgets Recent 'Terrorist' Label
The New Arab celebrates what they call a 'remarkable turnaround' – Ahmed Al-Sharaa, leader of HTS, once designated a terrorist organization by the US, is now welcomed in the Oval Office. (Perhaps the 'War on Terror' was always more of a revolving door, depending on current strategic needs.) For years, HTS was synonymous with extremist elements in Syria, fighting both the Assad regime and — lest we
forget — American interests. Their previous 'terrorist' designation, still technically listed by the State Department, seems to have been quietly filed away for this photo opportunity. This 'historic' meeting appears less about transformation and more about geopolitical pragmatism, or perhaps, a short-term memory crisis in Washington. How quickly does one go from an 'existential threat' to a
'valued partner' when a new crisis needs managing? One might ask what definitive steps Al-Sharaa took to shed his previous designation, or if it simply dissolved on the tarmac leading to Air Force One.