The BS Filter

We cover the events of March 2011, including Assad’s first speech since the start of the troubles, in which he blames foreign elements, sacks his cabinet, and points the finger at Al Jazeera, the satellite television network based in Qatar – which leads us to some talk about Qatar, their history, their recent troubles, their […]

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We talk more about the diplomatic cable, written in 2006 by William Roebuck, chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Damascus, that talked about ways the U.S. could help overthrow the Assad regime. It was later leaked by Wikileaks. We cover his comments about how the U.S. could use former Syrian vice president Abdul Halim […]

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Then 9/11 happened. In 2003, despite their history with Iraq during the first Gulf War, the Assad government opposed the United States’ invasion and occupation of Iraq. But that didn’t stop the USA from using Syria as one of the main places where they sent their “ghost detainees” as part of a program known as […]

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  When Hafez al-Assad died in June 2000 he was succeeded by his youngest son Bashar as President and Syrian Regional Branch head. He was 35 years old. He later ran unopposed in an election, receiving 97.29 percent of the vote. Sounds legit to us. Early in his Presidency, The Damascus Spring happened – some reforms, followed by […]

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We cover the last few decades of Hafez Al-Assad’s Presidency of Syria, including his support for America’s war on Iraq in 1991 and his brother Rifaat’s attempt at a coup. Hey our show is now listed in iTunes as “The BS Filter”. Click here. You should be able to find it in most podcast apps by searching for […]

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In this episode we continue to discuss the Lebanese civil war, the founding of the PLO (the Palestinian Liberation Organisation), Fatah, Hezbollah and the quick version of the Lebanese civil war from its genesis in 1975, how Syria got involved, right up until Syria was forced to leave the country in 2005 under mysterious circumstances. Hey our […]

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In this episode we discuss the Lebanese civil war which raged from 1975 – 1990 and claimed the lives of 120,000 people, with another 1,000,000 refugees. Syria played a huge role and their forces stayed in control of the country until 2005. We also explain a little about the “Eisenhower Doctrine” and the Suez Crisis […]

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In this episode we examine the US’ response to the OPEC oil sanctions of 1973. Kissinger promised to negotiate a settlement between Israel and Syria which was enough for Assad to convince Arab oil producers to lift the embargo in March 1974. But at the same time, and this was a closely held secret until 2016, […]

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Part 5 of our Syria series looks at the era of Hafez Al-Assad, 1970 – 2000. His rise through the ranks of the military, becoming a general in the air force, defense minister, and finally President after his own coup. His wars against Israel and his role in the OPEC crisis of 1973 which brought […]

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Part 4 of our series on the Syrian civil war focuses on the history of the Alawites, a bizarre and minor Islamic sect that spent most of its 1100 year history being oppressed (and beheaded) by the Sunni majority – until Hafez al-Assad, an Alawite, became the President of Syria in 1970. They were originally […]

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