In the Lion's Den: An Eyewitness Account of Washington's Battle with Syria

by Andrew Tabler

A key player and an unrelenting obstacle in the Middle East peace process, Syria has long been a thorn in Washington's side when it comes to forging strategic alliances with powers in the region. But only after the events of 9/11 and Damascus's staunch opposition to the War in Iraq did the U.S. government begin a campaign to pressure President Bashar al-Asad's regime to change its policies and bring Syria into the Western political orbit. Author Andrew Tabler was both a witness to and participant in the events of this covert conflict. No other Western journalists or academics were based in Damascus during this entire period, and as co-founder of what was then Syria's only English-language publication, Tabler was not only watched and censored, but courted by the Syrian government in an attempt to influence his stories to the international community. He gained unique access to the upper echelons of power like no other journalist before him, even accompanying the Syrian president on a state visit to China. In the Lion's Den provides a rare glimpse into the machinations of one of the world's most baffling political systems. The book vividly captures Tabler's behind-the-scenes experiences as well as the story of Syria itself post-9/11 and Washington's attempts to craft a "New Middle East." Tabler's astute political analysis of the goings-on around him is seamlessly interwoven with a devastating critique of U.S. foreign policy. He examines the effects of the the Bush adminstration's strategy, asking what went wrong, what went right, and where Washington needs to go from here to deal with this volatile Middle Eastern country.

Genres: Middle East, Politics, History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Katrina Jørgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great intro for people wanting to know more about Syria during the Bush admin. It does not deal very much with the current situation in Syria, but does touch on some diplomacy ideas worth reading. The most interesting part for me was better understanding the deep ties between Syria/Iran.

[David Brush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book by a journalist who spent a lot of time working in Syria in the early to late 2000's. My only complaint is a lot of the story is told from his firsthand experience and the information that more specifically pertained to him. I thought a broader history and broader context would've helped periodically, but still, a solid read. It's particularly interesting as it was published right as the event that would become the Syrian Civil War was beginning.

[Hazem Akil · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time

The author is obviously a mediocre journalist who found a chance to be relevant by portraying himself as an idealist in a tough neighbourhood. The inaccuracies in the the book are shocking. Don’t waste your time reading it (like I did unfortunately). It is nothing but trash.

[Sarah Husain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read and helpful context into the years leading up to the current civil war in Syria. However felt that the author lacked some perspective on the region and made some over generalizations at times.

[Quratulain · Rating 5 out of 5]

GB

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent first hand account of the years leading up to the Syrian revolution. KInd of a memoir, but with more of a journalist's view, lacking in some of the typical local flavor/personal discovery stuff that many travel memoirs have.

[Rosie Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally eye opening and shows a Western insiders perspective of Syria during a pivotal era in Middle Eastern history.