Understanding Syria through geography


There is good reason why modern Syria has long been a wellspring of Arab conspiracy theories, as well as hardcore Arab nationalism. It’s not in the water as some would suggest. The conspiracy is not imagined, it's very real and it’s not that hard to see. Our Arab lands have been cut up and stitched up so many times by colonial powers that the wounds have hardly had time to heal.
 
Today we are witnessing a neo-colonial venture that is taking advantage of internal discord in Syria. The wolves have gathered, they are arming all sides, and they are hiding behind claims of defending and helping the Syrian people. The truth is no one does anything for free. But what is most worrisome is how the conflict in Syria has brought long-buried sectarian divisions into sharp focus once again. The fact is none of the foreign powers, on which ever side they are on, want what is best for the Syrian people, they just want the spoils.
The Arab Revolt of 1919 which first took Damascus from the Ottomans was soon swept away by the French, the European power with the worst colonial record. The French quickly divided the former Ottoman provinces along sectarian lines, creating Alexandretta (Turkey's Hataya province), an Alawite State along the coast, a Druze State in Jabal Druz, Dayr az-Zor was merged into the provinces Aleppo and Damascus, and the Mutasarifiyet of Mount Lebanon was expanded to include large portions of the Vilayat of Beirut and the Bekaa to create Greater Lebanon. The French also gave away half of Aleppo's hinterland and Alexandretta (Hataya) to the newly formed Turkish State.

Arab lands were spoils of war as far as the French were concerned and the Arab people were expendable as no one spoke on their behalf. The chief concern of the French was to manage their restive colonial subjects not to create a modern State. They wanted to create a rift between sects, between majorities and minorities so that even after France pulled its troops out it will always be looked on by fearful minorities as their protector to whom they pay eternal homage. That was the plan at least. It's much like the mafia offering protection, those needing protection don't have the luxury to refuse.
 
Today the ghosts of our colonial past that have never been put to rest have reemerged to plunge the whole region into a new conflict. I don't have any answers or quick fixes, I was born into this mess as many were; we just have to deal with the mess.
 
                   Vilayet or Wilaya in Arabic is the administrative division used by the Ottomans


The French gave away much territory to the newly formedTurkish State in the late 30s, most significantly Aleppo's vital trade link and access to the sea
 

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