These various factors — ranging from economic interests to political maneuvering — help explain the strange paradox of countries scrambling to whitewash al-Sharaa and curry favor with a regime that was considered a terrorist entity just months ago. It is a fitting spectacle for the state of global politics in this Trumpian era.
I don’t think we necessarily disagree. Al Assad was a ruthless man who brought an era of terror to the country. However, at the same time, he’s been replaced by another ruthless man with a history that indicates he’ll also bring his own era of terror. In this sense, Syria isn’t exactly free, bur under new management.
Likewise, we can agree that the American invasion of Iraq was wrong and unjustifiable, but also acknowledge that Al Sharaa committing terrorist attacks is also wrong and unustifiable.
The main point here is that two wrongs don’t make a right, and the guy I’m replying to trying to justify terrorism is just morally represented.