Qutaiba Idlbi, a Syrian refugee and activist, and Robert L. McKenzie, a visiting fellow and expert on the Middle East and North Africa, discuss the Syrian crisis from a personal and public policy perspective.
In this podcast Idlbi shares his personal experience participating in the Syrian revolution and the repercussions for him and his family. McKenzie also provides feedback on the crisis from a policy perspective and the role that the United States should play in accepting refugees.
“Getting arrested is worse than getting killed because when you are arrested you wish you could get killed every moment you are in prison because of how much you are tortured,” Idlbi says about his experience in Syria. McKenzie says that, “There is no question that the Syrian crisis is the defining crisis of our time. It is a complex emergency that is ongoing.”
Also, Senior Fellow Elaine Kamarck gives her assessment of what happened on Super Tuesday, and looks ahead to the continuing presidential primary contest.
Show Notes
Watch: Syrian refugees tell their stories
Who we really are: A conversation with Syrian refugees in America
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Authors
Commentary
PodcastA Syrian refugee speaks
Robert L McKenzie,
Robert L McKenzie
Former Brookings Expert,
Senior Fellow and Director, Muslim Diaspora Initiative
- New America
@bobby_mckenzie
Qutaiba Idlbi, and
QI
Qutaiba Idlbi
Co-Founder
- People Demand Change
@Qattouby
Fred Dews
Fred Dews
Managing Editor, New Digital Products
- Office of Communications
@publichistory
March 4, 2016