The Fall of Assad: A Blow to His British Apologists and Global Allies

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The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has not only shaken the geopolitical landscape but has also left a trail of embarrassment for his staunch defenders in Britain. Figures like Jeremy Corbyn and George Galloway, who vocally opposed intervention against Assad, now face a reckoning as Syrians celebrate the end of his tyrannical rule.  

 

George Galloway: "The Arab world is now dead to me. The Syrian Arab Republic was its last gasp."

George Galloway: "The Arab world is now dead to me. The Syrian Arab Republic was its last gasp." pic.twitter.com/lXIcT19rmO

— Post-Left Watch (postleftwatch.bsky.social) (@PostLeftWatch) December 14, 2024

 

From the outset of the Arab Spring in 2011, protests against Assad's authoritarian regime ignited global attention. However, even as Syrians sought freedom, a cohort of British politicians and commentators emerged to defend Assad under the guise of anti-imperialism and sovereignty. George Galloway, a former Labour MP who later represented the Workers Party of Great Britain, became one of Assad’s most prominent apologists. Following a 2005 visit to Damascus, Galloway lauded Assad as a "breath of fresh air." His rhetoric grew more incendiary in the years that followed.

 

George Galloway goes on a racist rant claiming that 5,000 members of the Syrian rebels are "Chinamen" and Uyghurs who "never tasted Syrian hummus or shakshuka, don't care for it." adding "They eat rice for their breakfast, you see".

George Galloway goes on a racist rant claiming that 5,000 members of the Syrian rebels are "Chinamen" and Uyghurs who "never tasted Syrian hummus or shakshuka, don't care for it." adding "They eat rice for their breakfast, you see". pic.twitter.com/HnduzPGyDY

— Post-Left Watch (postleftwatch.bsky.social) (@PostLeftWatch) December 14, 2024

 

After the 2013 chemical attack on Ghouta, which killed hundreds, Galloway propagated conspiracy theories, claiming Israel had provided chemical weapons to al-Qaeda to frame Assad. Echoing Russian propaganda, he painted the Syrian Civil War as a stark choice between Assad and terrorism, muddying the discourse in Britain.  

 

In the aftermath of Ghouta, British Prime Minister David Cameron called for military intervention to enforce President Barack Obama’s "red line" on the use of chemical weapons. Yet, Cameron’s efforts were thwarted in Parliament, where a coalition of Conservative and Labour MPs voted against action, rejecting regime change in Syria by a narrow margin of 285 to 272. This decision marked a turning point, signaling Western reluctance to confront Assad militarily.  

 

Jeremy Corbyn, who became Labour leader in 2015, carried forward the anti-interventionist banner. When the United States launched missile strikes on Shayrat Airbase in April 2017 after Assad used chemical weapons again, Corbyn condemned the act as lacking UN authorization. He went further in 2018, describing coordinated strikes by the US, UK, and France on Assad’s facilities as "legally questionable" and likely to escalate the conflict. Yet, Corbyn’s fierce criticism of Western actions was conspicuously absent when it came to Russia’s brutal role in propping up Assad through relentless bombing campaigns and atrocities. This glaring inconsistency highlighted the selective outrage of British Assad apologists.  

 

While these figures had limited direct influence on policy, their rhetoric clouded public debate and eroded support for action against Assad. This allowed the West to step back, leaving the Syrian opposition to fend for itself. The consequences were devastating, as Assad tightened his grip on power with the help of Russia and Iran.  

 

Now, as Assad’s military defenses crumble and his regime disintegrates, Syrians are cautiously celebrating his ousting. His downfall lays bare the truth that he was a despised despot, devoid of popular legitimacy. The jubilant scenes of ordinary Syrians rejoicing are tempered by uncertainty over what groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) might do next and fears about the nation’s battered economy.  

 

For Assad’s defenders in Britain, his fall is a bitter pill to swallow. Their efforts to shield him from criticism and obstruct Western intervention stand in stark contrast to the Syrian people's desire for liberation. As the region moves into a new chapter, the legacy of Assad’s tyranny—and the misguided loyalties of his apologists—serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of ideological blindness.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-12-16