This is the Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times Opinion.
You've heard the news.
Here's what to make of it.
I'm Dan Waken, an international editor for New York Times Opinion.
And I'm Tom Friedman, the foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times.
Hi, Tom.
Morning, Dan.
So I wanted to talk to you about the situation in Syria and what it means for the Middle east as a whole.
It's been almost two weeks, weeks since Syria's dictator Bashar Al Assad was ousted after about 13 years of civil war.
This has been, as you've written, an earthquake for the Middle East, a game changer, really.
So I thought we could take the opportunity to talk through the ramifications
and how the Trump administration should respond.
But first, I have a question.
You've been covering and writing about the Middle east for a long time.
Basically for your entire career, you've seen different versions of the Assad regime in Syria.
I'm just curious.
Did you ever think this day would come?
Well, I certainly couldn't have predicted it, Dan, but I could have hoped for it.
You know, in your introduction, you said this happened after 13 years of civil war in Syria.
But actually the more relevant date is that it happened after more than 50 years of Assad family rule in Syria.