There are several “hot topics” right now in Syria. Here are a few I expect to be following over the quarter:
1. Syria has until recently accepted up to 30,000 Iraqi refugees a month. But the Sryian government has clamped down on the influx. Where will the refugees go?
http://voanews.com/english/2007-10-05-voa35.cfm
2. Israel attacked a target in Northern Syria on September 6th. It’s a murky story and as time passes, more players have become involved (The United States, for one) I will follow this story and Syrian/Israeli relations:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22540689-23109,00.html, http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3695754&page=1, http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gBuFrPW-4LwEbzRqVIg-_-_16yAAD8S3CC701
3. Syria has “friends” like Iran and North Korea that makes the U.S. highly uncomfortable. I will follow any developments between these nations. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=154316
4. There is “chatter” about the US taking action against Syria. I will follow any developments on this story, and any dilpomacy going on between Syria and the United States. http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/06/2052703.htm?section=justin
5. I also want to include news on Syrians’ experience of living in Syria and their own take at being regarded as citizens of a “rogue nation” I travelled to Syria for two weeks in September of this year and am in touch with several Syrians and students.
6. For class assisgnments I will speak with Syrians in Chicago.
