What I think I know.

This introductory post is about writing down my preconceived notions on the conflict, and what I know-or at least think I know- about Syria and it's history and current state of affairs. This post is key in seeing how my views and understanding on the topic has progressed through the research I will conduct and class discussion I will participate in.

The following information is all from my head, without any research.

Basic knowledge:

• Syria is a country in the Middle East.
• It's capital is Damascus.
• It is not landlocked, as a small portion of its Eastern border touches the Mediterranean Sea.

Basic assumptions:

• Its people predominately speak Arabic, or perhaps Farsi?
• Islam is the predominate religion.
• It has some sort of totalitarian form of government.

Assumptions regarding the conflict:

• Is due to civil unrest by the public.
• The conflict is inspired by the initial uprising by another Arab country.
• It is considered part of the "Arab Spring" or the "Awakening."
• It is trying to be put down by the government through drastic measures, such as killing or maiming protesting civilians.
• The country has banned outside reporters and leaders from entering the country to report on the conflict.
• The leader(s) of the country believe they are winning the fight, or at least say that to press public.

Questions:

• Why has the U.N. not issued a sanction on Syria like they had done with Libya?
• What caused the initial uprising in the other country- the one considered the initial uprising in the Arab Spring?
• Why were the citizens of Syria upset with their government enough to try and rise against it?
• Is this conflict about the citizens trying to reform their government, or is it about something else?
• How long has this conflict been going on?
• What are the roots of this conflict? A decision made by the government? General unrest?
• Who is the leader of the country and what are his thoughts in regards to these earlier questions?
  
• How do the views of the people and those in power differ on the matter of this conflict?
• How does the world view this conflict?

These are all points that I will be trying to research on my journey with the Syrian conflict throughout the Spring Semester of 2012; during my enrollment in the class entitled: Introduction to War, Peace, and Terrorism taught by Professor David Speetzen.