Syria Debacle

The Common Good hosted a special conference call with Ambassador Robert Ford, former US Ambassador to Syria. Ambassador Ford gave credible insights into the state of the dispute in Syria, and the future of the current state in the Middle East.

The Common Good was honored to offer members a fresh take on the Syria conflict in a conference call with former US Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford. Mr. Ford is a decorated diplomat who served as Ambassador to Syria under the Obama administration, with an extensive diplomatic tenure in Iraq as well as Northern Africa.

Ambassador Ford discussed many of the key proceedings taking place in Syria, including new developments such as the insertion of the Turkish military into the conflict. Mr. Ford has a decorated history of diplomacy in the Middle East. In 2012, he was rewarded by the John F. Kennedy library in Boston with the annual Profile in Courage Award for his defense of human rights in Syria. His expertise on these issues provided members with unique insights towards the ramifications of Turkey’s actions, such as potential consequences regarding NATO as well as the US relationship with the democracy supportive Kurds.

The Ambassador opened up the call to highly educated questions from informed members who shared his concerns on the conflict. His responses provided a plethora of distinct perspectives, unique to someone of his expertise.

Syrian Civil War: End in Sight? : Ambassador Robert Ford

Ambassador Robert Ford provided an update on the Syrian Civil War, including current critical policy choices and possible outcomes. Ford discussed the roles of the various players, from Syrian President Bashar al- Assad and ISIS, to the U.S, Russia, Iran and Turkey, calling on his experience and his deep expertise in Arab politics and diplomacy. This event was hosted by Robert Pietrzak and Maureen White.

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Robert Ford is a distinguished career diplomat who left the U.S. department of State after thirty years of service in April 2014. His accomplishments were recognized with the Distinguished Service award, the State Department’s highest award, a Presidential Honor award in 2012 for his stewardship of the American Embassy in Damascus during a crisis period, and the Profile in Courage award in 2012 from the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston for human rights work. Ford served as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria (20121-2014), to Algeria (2006-2008) and also served as Deputy Ambassador of Iraq and Bahrain. Other foreign posts included in Egypt, Turkey, and Cameroon. He served in Morocco at the beginning of his career as a Peace Corp Volunteer. He is now a scholar at the Middle East Institute where he writes and speaks about Iraq, Syria and North Africa. He is also a fellow at Yale University Jackson institute where he teaches Arab politics and diplomacy.

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