Able Quote by Vijay Prashad
“Mr. Assad is not going to be able to feel like there is a moderate opposition that actually threatens him. Currently, the Assad government looks out at the landscape, sees the rise of ISIS, sees that much of the rebel force has become largely Islamist, and then turns to the West and says, well, you know, they look toward the West and say, well, look, what you have is a terrorist group that's fighting against us. So in this context, I think, to talk about moderate opposition being created to put pressure on Damascus is rather illusionary.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Middle East politics, 2014
The Assad regime perceives moderate opposition as weak and insignificant, viewing most rebels as Islamist or terrorist, making the idea of a strong moderate force unrealistic.
In simple terms: Assad sees moderate opposition as an illusion because most rebels are Islamist or terrorist.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of moderate forces in such conflicts.
Themes
politics
conflict
perception
moderation
illusion
Mood
cautious
analytical
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- analysis of Syrian civil war
- policy formulation
- media reporting
Key Concepts
regime stability
opposition dynamics
terrorism
Western policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can moderate voices be amplified in authoritarian contexts?
- What role does external perception play in shaping internal opposition?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook grassroots moderate movements that exist but are suppressed.
![“We used to be a serious country. When we got attacked at Pearl Harbor, we took on Imperial Japan, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. We beat all three in less than four years. We're about to enter the seventh year of this phony war against ... [terrorist groups], and we're losing.” quote by Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/995/newt-gingrich-792_attacked_we-used-to-be-a-serious-country-when-we_366981.jpg)
