The battle wasn't just in 2016, it started in 2012 and concluded in 2016. So a lot of the time between 2011-2014 was still defined by fighting, but it was more between the government and the opposition rather than fundamentalist groups that started to spring up I think in 2014. I can't help much more than that, I can't remember much about the war between 2011-2014.
Also you should just punch that person you were arguing with they're not worth your time.
I think it started kinda very weirdly, they got the Arab spring, protests, assad seemingly was giving some concessions and suddenly everyone taken unyielding positions over period of 2-3 months and gone to war :sadness:
It was a drought leading to spiraling food prices iirc, coupled with the euphoria of the other arab spring revolutions succeeding (though of course, as we know in hindsight, only Tunisia went how the libs wanted it to, and even that country has problems).
I was actually friends with a person that was part of the protests (and jailed for a time) against Assad from like day 1, and even they told me they had no real demands, no leadership, no plan what to do once Assad was away. Eventually, they left as a refugee and made it to where I live. Last time we talked about this, they told me they don't really like any of the factions in the war and didn't even object to me suggesting Assad winning the war might be one of the more preferable outcomes.
didn’t even object to me suggesting Assad winning the war might be one of the more preferable outcomes
Most Syrians* just want to live their lives and are tired of war and sanctions. If that means going back to 2010 and having Assad still in power, they absolutely would take it.
* that I know, though I think this view is widely held
You're correct, from my experience talking to levantine refugees here. (Which amusingly included a Yazidi person who was basically this a.k.a. pro-Saddam)
The remarkable fact was that the friend of mine was the offspring of wealthy people from the intellectual strata, fluent in English and with strong sadly lib opinions (which is one of the reasons we drifted apart), that is someone who likes to dine from Zizek's trashcan.
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The battle wasn't just in 2016, it started in 2012 and concluded in 2016. So a lot of the time between 2011-2014 was still defined by fighting, but it was more between the government and the opposition rather than fundamentalist groups that started to spring up I think in 2014. I can't help much more than that, I can't remember much about the war between 2011-2014.
Also you should just punch that person you were arguing with they're not worth your time.
I think it started kinda very weirdly, they got the Arab spring, protests, assad seemingly was giving some concessions and suddenly everyone taken unyielding positions over period of 2-3 months and gone to war :sadness:
It was a drought leading to spiraling food prices iirc, coupled with the euphoria of the other arab spring revolutions succeeding (though of course, as we know in hindsight, only Tunisia went how the libs wanted it to, and even that country has problems).
I was actually friends with a person that was part of the protests (and jailed for a time) against Assad from like day 1, and even they told me they had no real demands, no leadership, no plan what to do once Assad was away. Eventually, they left as a refugee and made it to where I live. Last time we talked about this, they told me they don't really like any of the factions in the war and didn't even object to me suggesting Assad winning the war might be one of the more preferable outcomes.
Most Syrians* just want to live their lives and are tired of war and sanctions. If that means going back to 2010 and having Assad still in power, they absolutely would take it.
* that I know, though I think this view is widely held
You're correct, from my experience talking to levantine refugees here. (Which amusingly included a Yazidi person who was basically this a.k.a. pro-Saddam)
The remarkable fact was that the friend of mine was the offspring of wealthy people from the intellectual strata, fluent in English and with strong sadly lib opinions (which is one of the reasons we drifted apart), that is someone who likes to dine from Zizek's trashcan.