Questions about the country of Syria FREAS1. History of the protests. When did the protests start? Why did they start? The protests began on March 15, 2011. Syria's president, Bashar Assad, boasted that a revolution would never happen in his country, unlike Syria's near neighbors, Egypt and Tunisia. However, President Bashar Assad was wrong. Your country has been hit by the ever-growing Arab Spring/Uprising.b. How did the government respond? The government cracked down on the protesters, killing six and wounding many others. The protesters called for the resignation of the mayor and the head of the security police. The police then responded to the protests by opening fire on the crowd. President Bashar Assad later apologized and expressed his condolences to the families of those killed.c. Identify at least two other important events and government responses.i. A chemical weapons attack on rebels on the outskirts of Damascus on 21 August 2013 killed 1,429 people, including 426 children. The vast majority of these people were not rebels and were not involved in the conflict in any way, but they were killed anyway.ii. Friday 22 April 2011 is the bloodiest day of the revolution. Demonstrators/rebels protesting against President Bashar al-Assad seized a tower block used as a base for pro-Gaddafi snipers. In response, government troops opened fire on the protests, killing up to 20 people.d. Identify two international responses that appear significant.i. The international response to Syria's use of chemical weapons on its people has been (once proven) very strong, swift and negative. The United States has even threatened military airstrikes against the Syrian government, up to... middle of paper... five international organizations (e.g. the Arab League, the UN, NATO, etc.) or other countries you have been involved in events in your country? If yes, how? (Categorize/generalize some of the involvement.) The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is involved, and also the United Nations, since they have a global ban on chemical weapons. Several members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were also taken hostage, but were later released.b. What was the United States' position regarding the events in your country? The United States has been very concerned about this conflict from the beginning, but is still reluctant to get involved in another war. The US threatened to attack Syria after the chemical attack, but is holding off on attacks until the previously mentioned Russian diplomatic plan is attempted..