{"id":29775,"date":"2025-05-18T09:55:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T13:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/?p=29775"},"modified":"2025-05-13T16:22:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T20:22:35","slug":"can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p>The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The enemy of your enemy&#8230; is not your friend. In December of 2024, former President Joe Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i7vxMI2tPGE\" target=\"_blank\">applauded<\/a> the toppling of Bashar al-Assad\u2019s regime in Syria as a \u201cfundamental act of justice,\u201d and looked forward to working with the new regime to \u201cbuild a better future for their country.\u201d With Abu Mohammad al-Jolani <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c0q0w1g8zqvo\" target=\"_blank\">seizing control<\/a> and forming a new Islamic government in Syria, American and European politicians began to look forward to rebuilding a \u201cliberated\u201d Syria, one which, unlike its predecessor, would behave more amicably with the West. However, like clockwork, Jolani\u2019s new Syrian government was quick to seize control through violent and merciless force; thousands of Syrian Christians, Alawites, and now Druze, are being gunned down, tortured, raped, and even sold into slavery while Western media now conveniently sticks its head in the sand. <\/p>\n<p>Despite decades of propping up regional \u201cfreedom fighters,\u201d why do the U.S. and Western nations never fail at intervening in foreign politics, and consistently work to replace one dictator for a new, more violent, one?<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Interventionism&mdash;The Foreign Policy That Keeps Failing<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Syria\u2019s regime change is nothing new; in fact, it is another prong in a decade-long strategy to oust a leader from power, and install a more Western-friendly head of state. From the CIA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/mwi.westpoint.edu\/after-a-decade-of-incoherent-strategy-in-syria-a-way-forward\/\" target=\"_blank\">Operation Timber Sycamore<\/a> which armed and trained Jihadi rebels to combat Assad, to funding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armyupress.army.mil\/Journals\/Military-Review\/English-Edition-Archives\/May-June-2020\/Portzer-Peoples-Protection-Unit\/\" target=\"_blank\">insurgents<\/a> known for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysabah.com\/politics\/war-on-terror\/ypgpkk-kidnaps-4-assyrians-in-syria\" target=\"_blank\">terrorizing<\/a> Assyrian civilians amidst the fight against ISIS terrorists, to Israel\u2019s attempt to secure a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/middle-east-north-africa\/east-mediterranean-mena\/syria-israelpalestine\/how-israels-overreach-syria-may-backfire\" target=\"_blank\">demilitarized zone<\/a> in Syria, foreign actors have been quick to interject in Syrian politics, even if it means destabilizing the region.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately for Syrians, while Assad is out of the picture, a new, more dangerous force has entered the stage: Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a known al-Qaeda terrorist and jihadi looking to carve out another <a href=\"https:\/\/worldcrunch.com\/world-affairs\/syria-islamists-school-curricula\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sharia state<\/a>, much like current Taliban-control <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/11\/15\/asia\/taliban-afghanistan-sharia-law-intl-hnk\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Afghanistan<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Since Jolani\u2019s rise to power, Syrian minorities have been at the mercy of its extremist rulers. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/christians-islam-massacres-syria-killings-hts-2049603\" target=\"_blank\">Syrian Christians<\/a>, along with Alawites, a religious minority in the region, suffered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/hundreds-civilians-killed-syria-what-we-know-rcna195515\" target=\"_blank\">over a thousand dead<\/a>, as the new Syrian government hunted them down in the streets of cities like Tartus and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SYQfvmYkUTw\" target=\"_blank\">Latakia<\/a>. Eye witnesses report on pregnant women, children, and the elderly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/features\/2025\/3\/20\/dont-trust-anyone-are-syrias-alawis-losing-faith-in-the-new-government\" target=\"_blank\">summarily executed<\/a> on site, with an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KevorkAlmassian\/status\/1915896038616977419\" target=\"_blank\">rising number<\/a> of Alawite women and girls abducted and <a href=\"https:\/\/thecradle.co\/articles-id\/30288\" target=\"_blank\">sold into sex slavery<\/a>&mdash;reminiscent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2014\/05\/01\/world\/meast\/syria-bodies-crucifixions\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">ISIS\u2019 reign<\/a> just a decade ago. <\/p>\n<p>Now the Jolani-terrorist regime is setting its eyes on the Druze&mdash;another cultural and religious minority group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/israel-news\/article-852397\" target=\"_blank\">systematically targeted<\/a> by the new regimee&mdash;as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/5\/2\/israel-strikes-near-syrias-presidential-palace-issues-warning-over-druze\" target=\"_blank\">firefights erupt<\/a> near the capital of Damascus, resulting in the systematic claiming the lives of over 100 people. <\/p>\n<p>This sort of violent extremism is nothing new. For decades, Syrian minorities have often been threatened with expulsion and death. Having survived under the iron fist of ISIS, locals lived their lives while inundated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csmonitor.com\/World\/Middle-East\/2011\/0513\/Assad-regime-may-be-gaining-upper-hand-in-Syria\" target=\"_blank\">slogans<\/a> like: \u201cThe Christians to Beirut and the Alawites to the grave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The recent <a href=\"https:\/\/sihr.fr\/eng\/sectarian-cleansing-as-a-policy-of-governance\/\" target=\"_blank\">uptick<\/a> in sectarian killings and jihadist rhetoric brought about by Jolani\u2019s rise doesn\u2019t appear to be slowing anytime soon. Instead of \u201cliberating\u201d the people of Syria like Biden and EU leaders claim to have wanted, we are seeing yet another instance of mass killings, religious cleansing, and the emergence of an ISIS-like regime which falls short of any sort of \u201cdemocratization\u201d effort. After introducing Sharia and commanding sectarian violence, Jolani is now claiming that it could take up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/30\/middleeast\/syria-elections-four-years-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">four years<\/a> before elections could be conducted in the new Syrian government.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the West\u2019s considerable past involvement, it appears the Syrian situation won\u2019t improve anytime soon. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The Consequences of Inadvertently Funding Extremists Groups<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nearly ten years after President Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/national-security\/trump-ends-covert-cia-program-to-arm-anti-assad-rebels-in-syria-a-move-sought-by-moscow\/2017\/07\/19\/b6821a62-6beb-11e7-96ab-5f38140b38cc_story.html\" target=\"_blank\">phasing out<\/a> of Timber Sycamore, Syria is now left with more instability, destroyed infrastructure, and forced migration than it began with. Approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrefugees.org\/news\/syria-refugee-crisis-explained\/%23:~:text=Since%202011,%20more%20than%2014,live%20below%20the%20poverty%20line.\/\" target=\"_blank\">14 million<\/a> Syrians have fled their homes since 2011, as the World Bank estimates between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/country\/syria\/brief\/syria-joint-damage-assessment-2022-q-a#:~:text=The%202022%20Syria%20DA%20finds,for%20the%20most%20affected%20cities.\" target=\"_blank\">$5-7 billion<\/a> in structural damage throughout the country. Internal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/middle-east-north-africa\/east-mediterranean-mena\/syria-israelpalestine\/fighting-damascus-exposes\" target=\"_blank\">fighting<\/a> continues to yield needless casualties, threatening a peaceful future for remaining civilians. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/syrias-new-leaders-face-economy-decimated-by-war-sanctions-2025-01-06\/\" target=\"_blank\">economic uncertainty<\/a> and simultaneous rise of Jolani signifies a crucial point in Syria\u2019s contemporary history, and global responses to his rule will determine what happens next. <\/p>\n<p>Some members of the international community and mainstream media are fully invested in legitimizing Syria\u2019s new administration. The United Nations <a href=\"https:\/\/media.un.org\/photo\/en\/asset\/oun7\/oun7495780\" target=\"_blank\">raised<\/a> the new green, white, and black flag as Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani briefed the UN Security Council last month. His and Jolani\u2019s promise for a \u201cnew Syria\u201d is echoed in countless features on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c05p9g2nqmeo\" target=\"_blank\">BBC<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1tLBPbEXScA\" target=\"_blank\">CNN<\/a>, and the like. Foreign Ministers from France, Germany, and <a href=\"https:\/\/europeanconservative.com\/articles\/news\/brussels-syria-terrorists-massacre-von-der-leyen-commission-hts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Brussels<\/a> followed the above pattern of irresponsible endorsement through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2025\/01\/03\/israel-syria-war-news-hamas-gaza-palestine\/\" target=\"_blank\">meetings<\/a> in Damascus earlier this year. Since then, Jolani\u2019s attended a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.middleeastmonitor.com\/20250311-eu-invites-new-syria-govt-to-donor-conference-in-brussels\/\" target=\"_blank\">donor conference<\/a> hosted by the European Commission, and more recently attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, a nod to Erdogan\u2019s support for his tenure as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dni.gov\/nctc\/ftos\/hts_fto.html\" target=\"_blank\">Hay\u2019at Tahrir al Sham<\/a>\u2019s leader in Idlib during the civil war. French President Emmanuel Macron even rolled out the red carpet for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20250507-syrian-leader-to-meet-macron-in-first-european-visit\" target=\"_blank\">joint press conference<\/a> in Paris, receiving unexpected mixed responses from an audience eager to hold Jolani accountable for his past. <\/p>\n<p>However, the United States remains cautious, issuing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.middleeasteye.net\/news\/us-offering-conditional-partial-sanctions-relief-syria-report\" target=\"_blank\">conditions<\/a> for Jolani and his new cabinet to agree to before rewarding them with sanction relief. From cooperation on counterterrorism efforts to the destruction of chemical weapons storage, the current regime is arguably far from reaching a satisfactory level for America to grant its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.middleeasteye.net\/news\/us-offering-conditional-partial-sanctions-relief-syria-report\" target=\"_blank\">offered extension<\/a> of a two-year exemption allowing transactions with Syrian institutions. The future of Syria seems to lie in incentives for its economy, and only time will tell if its jihadist leaders will capitalize on national prosperity, or an expansion of <a href=\"https:\/\/events.ceu.edu\/2025-01-30\/sharia-and-tribal-justice-idlib-under-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-hts-how-history-informs\" target=\"_blank\">Idlib\u2019s last eight years<\/a>. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The Goal Is Power, Not Democracy<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Unfortunately for the locals, apart from harshly-worded tweets and the obligatory \u201cthoughts and prayers\u201d messages, it doesn\u2019t appear the international community is all too interested in putting an end to the genocide currently underway in Syria. Instead, the West\u2019s decade-long strategy of intervention has effectively begun to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.ara.cat\/misc\/israel-seeks-the-partition-of-syria-by-aiding-the-druze-minority_129_5366362.html\" target=\"_blank\">balkanize<\/a> the Syrian state, weakening internal power structures while victimizing the countless minority groups stuck between a bloodthirsty fanatic regime, and Western indifference. <\/p>\n<p>As Jolani\u2019s influence grows in and out of Syria, the chance for survival of minorities in the state slims. While world leaders intend to stabilize the region by funding and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/how-isis-lost-raqqa-capital-2017-10#after-months-of-brutal-urban-warfare-and-heavy-resistance-from-isis-fighters-the-sdf-declared-victory-in-raqqa-on-october-17-after-seizing-the-national-hospital-and-the-city-stadium-where-the-last-isisfighters-were-stationed-5\" target=\"_blank\">training<\/a> various insurgent groups in the never-ending fight against terrorism and barbarism, the citizens living in regions like Syria are forced to bear the brunt of their decisions, even if it means paying the ultimate price. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>War Doesn\u2019t Discriminate<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dni.gov\/nctc\/ftos\/isis_fto.html\" target=\"_blank\">Iraq<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2025\/04\/1162841\" target=\"_blank\">Afghanistan<\/a>, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/press-release\/2021\/02\/libya-ten-years-after-uprising-abusive-militias-evade-justice-and-instead-reap-rewards\/\" target=\"_blank\">Libya<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/01\/world\/middleeast\/syria-sectarian-violence-100-killed.html\" target=\"_blank\">Syria<\/a>, our politicians have been quick to order regime change and support \u201cfreedom fighters\u201d who too often turn out to be worse than their predecessors. While good intentions may be present in these foreign policy decisions, it is glaringly obvious that intervention often leads to power vacuums&mdash;and in Syria\u2019s case&mdash;thousands of civilian bodies left in the streets as a result.<\/p>\n<p>To add insult to injury, these interventionist measures also damage American lives as well. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/benghazi-mastermind-re-sentenced-28-years-prison-attack-killed-4-americans\" target=\"_blank\">Benghazi<\/a> to the botched <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignaffairs.house.gov\/getting-answers-on-afghanistan-withdrawal\/\" target=\"_blank\">Afghanistan withdrawal<\/a>, American service members have lost their lives thanks to the disastrous political decisions our leaders made while juggling decades-long international conflicts. While security and democracy have been espoused by Western leaders from Washington to Brussels and beyond, it is clear that instability has become a constant in the Middle East, and will continue to be so until the war games cease. <\/p>\n<p>Until then, minority groups in Syria and other failed nations are left at the mercy of global politics, with no one to turn to for help, but themselves.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em>This article was co-authored by Connor Vasile and Lora Karch. Lora Karch is an independent analyst focusing on geopolitics in the Middle East. Her work has appeared in The National Interest, The Libertarian Institute, and Global Security Review. Find her on X <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LoraKarch\" target=\"_blank\">@LoraKarch<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":29778,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[274],"tags":[10249,351,2661,764,516],"content-type":[3493],"coauthors":[2025],"class_list":["post-29775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-abu-mohammad-al-jolani","tag-foreign-policy","tag-islam","tag-middle-east","tag-syria","content-type-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.1 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Free the People\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/freethepeople\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-18T13:55:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/islam-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Connor Vasile\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/x.com\/connor_vasile\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@freethepeople\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Connor Vasile\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Connor Vasile\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/483f51a013972411783de1b489da3fd8\"},\"headline\":\"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-18T13:55:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1351,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/islam-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Abu Mohammad al-Jolani\",\"foreign policy\",\"Islam\",\"middle east\",\"syria\"],\"articleSection\":[\"article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/\",\"name\":\"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/islam-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-18T13:55:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/islam-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/islam-1.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":900},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"Free the People\",\"description\":\"Free thinkers, unite.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"Free the People\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Free the People\",\"alternateName\":\"Free the People\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/282873789_318682847093508_129724565035754006_n-2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/282873789_318682847093508_129724565035754006_n-2.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"Free the People\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/freethepeople\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/freethepeople\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/freethepeople\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/free-the-people\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/freethepeople\",\"https:\\\/\\\/rumble.com\\\/c\\\/c-1372972\",\"https:\\\/\\\/odysee.com\\\/@freethepeople:a61\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/483f51a013972411783de1b489da3fd8\",\"name\":\"Connor Vasile\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/connor-96x96.jpgcdd6e07a8011adcff0df3be8fbc14555\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/connor-96x96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/connor-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Connor Vasile\"},\"description\":\"Connor Vasile is a political commentator and analyst. He is the author of The State Knows Best and I'm Joe Biden: In His Own Words. You can find him on X @connor_vasile.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/connorvasile\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/connor_vasile\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freethepeople.org\\\/author\\\/connorvasile\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?","description":"The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?","og_description":"The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.","og_url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/","og_site_name":"Free the People","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/freethepeople","article_published_time":"2025-05-18T13:55:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/islam-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Connor Vasile","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/x.com\/connor_vasile","twitter_site":"@freethepeople","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Connor Vasile","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/"},"author":{"name":"Connor Vasile","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#\/schema\/person\/483f51a013972411783de1b489da3fd8"},"headline":"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?","datePublished":"2025-05-18T13:55:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/"},"wordCount":1351,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/islam-1.jpg","keywords":["Abu Mohammad al-Jolani","foreign policy","Islam","middle east","syria"],"articleSection":["article"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/","url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/","name":"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/islam-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-05-18T13:55:08+00:00","description":"The West is quick to support \u201cresistance fighters\u201d without considering the immediate, deadly consequences.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/islam-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/islam-1.jpg","width":1600,"height":900},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/can-the-west-stop-propping-up-dictators\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can the West Stop Propping Up Dictators?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/","name":"Free the People","description":"Free thinkers, unite.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#organization"},"alternateName":"Free the People","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#organization","name":"Free the People","alternateName":"Free the People","url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/282873789_318682847093508_129724565035754006_n-2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/282873789_318682847093508_129724565035754006_n-2.jpg","width":600,"height":600,"caption":"Free the People"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/freethepeople","https:\/\/x.com\/freethepeople","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/freethepeople","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/free-the-people","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/freethepeople","https:\/\/rumble.com\/c\/c-1372972","https:\/\/odysee.com\/@freethepeople:a61"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/#\/schema\/person\/483f51a013972411783de1b489da3fd8","name":"Connor Vasile","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/connor-96x96.jpgcdd6e07a8011adcff0df3be8fbc14555","url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/connor-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/connor-96x96.jpg","caption":"Connor Vasile"},"description":"Connor Vasile is a political commentator and analyst. He is the author of The State Knows Best and I'm Joe Biden: In His Own Words. You can find him on X @connor_vasile.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/connorvasile","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/x.com\/connor_vasile"],"url":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/author\/connorvasile\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29775"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=29775"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freethepeople.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=29775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}