1. For SYRIA, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. the chief of state (and head of government if different) If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? – include name of heir apparent for monarch
6. the population

Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.

NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the info under “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources” below.

2. For SYRIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What is the purpose of the alliance between these two groups that are usually enemies? Be specific.
c) Why have the Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (who are enemies) established an agreement to work together?
d) Read the “Background” below and watch the videos. This is a very complicated issue. Many foreign policy experts, world leaders and Republican politicians oppose President Trump’s decision and say he is abandoning our allies the Kurds and making the worst decision he could possibly make. Some questions to consider:

• The United Nations Security Council is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. The United Nations Human Rights Council is a UN body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. If this will be a bloodbath, where is the UN? What is the UN doing to protect and to help the Kurds? What is the UN telling Turkey? Is the UN doing its job? What should it do?
• If Congress says President Trump is wrong and we need to be in Syria to protect our allies the Kurds, why don’t they declare war on Turkey, who after long-term talks told the U.S. they were going in to Syria whether we were there or not?

e) President Trump has said he would impose economic sanctions on Turkey and Turkish officials for offenses against the Kurds. Will this work? Is this a good idea? Explain your answer.
f) Senator Rand Paul says the U.S. withdrawal will force the Kurds and Syria to establish a peace deal. What do you think of his comments?
g) From a commentary by Brad Polumbo, Washington Examiner, Oct. 7:

Syria will continue to be a bloody disaster zone with deaths on all sides either way, and it may be true that leaving puts the Kurds in danger. But we should leave anyway. U.S. foreign policy exists to put America first, and we did not enter Syria or return to Iraq in order to establish a Kurdish state. We never promised the Kurds our ongoing protection or aid in a war of independence in northern Syria. Our own goals and interests should always dictate our military decisions. To risk U.S. lives to police the outcome of the Syrian conflict, which will continue to be extremely bloody no matter what, puts American interests last in a failed attempt to continue policing the world.

As Afghanistan veteran William Ruger told me in a statement: “It is not America’s job to sort out the future of Syria. We were in Syria for a very limited reason — to eliminate ISIS’s territorial caliphate. We have accomplished that goal, so now it is time to bring our troops from that country home.

What do you think of Mr. Polumbo’s assertions? Does the U.S. have a responsibility to stay in Syria long-term to help the Kurds? To prevent ISIS from re-emerging? (Agree/disagree?)