The War in Syria and the US Role in the Region

Center for Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies (CIMES) invites
World Affairs Council to
The War in Syria and the US Role in the Region

Thursday, November 3, 2016
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Program Free - No Preregistration Required
CSUSB, San Manuel Student Union Events Center
5500 University Pkwy., San Bernardino
Map: CSUSBcampusmap-color.pdf

Panel of Experts

Dr. As'ad Abukhalil CSU, Stanislaus
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Marashi, Associate Professor of Middle East history, CSU San Marcos

The mainstream U.S. media have been covering the war in Syria and its subsequent refugee crisis since 2011, yet most of us lack sufficient understanding regarding what actually caused Syria to be in such "crisis."  The dominant discourses employed by the U.S. mainstream media have framed the Syrian War as an extension of the so-called war on terror and focused on either ISIS or the Asad regime as the sole culprits. However, we must also consider two additional factors as contributory to the dire situation and human suffering in Syria: the various ethnic and religious groups involved as key actors, as well as the aspirations of various countries in the world to shape Syria's future and be a dominant power in the region. This panel discussion will provide a critical analysis of the complex crisis in Syria and the multiple parties involved in creating and maintaining it, including the United States.

This Partner Program is sponsored by the Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the University Diversity Committee, the Department of Communication Studies, and the Muslim Students Association (MSA)