Few Westerners can pinpoint Syria on a map without hesitation, and even fewer are familiar with its history. Western media typically portray it as a warped dictatorship part of the 'Axis of Evil'. This country, a crossroads of Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Turkish civilizations, was under French administration for about thirty years. Syria is also a cradle of Christianity, with about two million Christians freely practicing their faith today; it remains a rare secular Arab nation ensuring equality for all citizens, regardless of gender or sect, in both public and private employment opportunities. The book portrays today's Syria, a result of years of on-ground observation and unknown sources, with exclusive interviews from key figures including President Bashar al-Assad. It provides a unique insight into the current conditions in the Near East. From the birth of Arab nationalism and the creation of Israel, to the 'explosive legacy' left by Hafez al-Assad and the aftermath of Baghdad's fall in 2003, the authors reveal how the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri facilitated efforts to topple the Syrian regime and how the 'global war on terror' exacerbated global chaos. Nevertheless, Syria has undeniably returned to its role as a pivotal country in the Near and Middle East, and the time has come to better understand it. Richard Labévière is the editor-in-chief of Défense magazine and a specialist in Near and Middle East affairs with about fifteen books, including Terrorism Dollars: The United States and the Islamists, and the Ehden Massacre or The Curse of the Christian Arabs. Talal Atrash is a writer and correspondent for French and Lebanese press in Damascus, winner of the 2007 Lorenzo Natali Prize from the European Union. He worked for several years as a correspondent for Radio France Internationale, Agence France Presse, the French Communist Party's L’Humanité, Lebanese Magazine, and French channels BFM TV and TV5.