The Godfather A Brief History of Modern Syria

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The Godfather A Brief History of Modern Syria

• Doris Bittar
• James Rauch

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It all began with an isolated mountain people,
living in a neglected region of a Mediterranean
country famed for its rich cultural heritage

• The Mountains of Sicily

• The Alawite Mountains

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One man clawed his way to leadership, using a
combination of tactical brilliance and ruthless
killing

• Vito Corleone
• (the Lion-hearted)

• Hafez al-Assad
• (the Lion)

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He groomed his eldest son to assume leadership of
the family enterprise

• Sonny Corleone

• Bassel al-Assad

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But the eldest son was hot-headed and reckless,
and was killed in a vehicle-related incident

• Sonny Corleone was assassinated at a tollbooth

• Bassel al-Assad drove his Mercedes off the road

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The father mourned the death of his eldest son,
and recruited his younger son to take his place.
The younger son had lived abroad and become
highly educated and respected

• Michael Corleone

• Bashar al-Assad

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The younger sons reputation was enhanced by his
marriage to a beautiful, blond, articulate woman

• Kay Corleone

• Asma al-Assad

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Hopes for reform grew following the fathers
death. The younger sons assumption of
leadership seemed to promise a break from the
familys violent ways
The funeral of Vito Corleone The funeral
of Hafez al-Assad
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But these hopes were dashed, as the younger son
proved to be even more ruthless than the father
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To be continued