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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:10,650 This programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting. 2 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:30,119 O mio babbino caro... 3 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:35,559 Bashar al-Assad, a former eye doctor in West London, 4 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,500 is now president of Syria. 5 00:00:38,881 --> 00:00:45,119 It's a role he never expected. 6 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,559 His older brother, who had been groomed for the job, 7 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,320 had died in a car crash. 8 00:00:51,321 --> 00:00:54,279 A comperar l'anello... 9 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,919 His wife Asma, a British-born Syrian who studied computer science, 10 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:01,519 is now First Lady. 11 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:09,119 Si, ci voglio andare... 12 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,199 Together they dream of reforming Syria, 13 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,679 making it a respectable country on the world stage. 14 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:23,290 They have built an opera house, and tonight is its opening night. 15 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:35,959 Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio... 16 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:41,919 14 years later, 00:01:45,479 Over ten million will have fled their homes, 18 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:50,759 and half a million people will have been killed. 19 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:57,079 SONG CONCLUDES 20 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,960 APPLAUSE 21 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:29,930 There's a Mafia-like character to the Assad family itself. 22 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,300 It's always dangerous. 23 00:02:35,301 --> 00:02:42,479 I know the man behind the presidency, I know the father 24 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,519 he is to his children, and I know the husband that he is to me. 25 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:51,759 Um... And, more importantly, I know that he's a man who cares. 26 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:56,079 You ask yourself, how does this mild-mannered eye doctor, 27 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:02,450 how does he end up killing hundreds of thousands of people? 28 00:03:25,671 --> 00:03:36,479 In 2004, wars are raging in the Middle East. 29 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:36,479 GUNFIRE 30 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,700 Watch out! 31 00:03:38,701 --> 00:03:41,079 GUNSHOT 32 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:46,519 America and its allies are fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. 33 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:52,230 And in Iraq, they have toppled Saddam Hussein. 34 00:03:52,231 --> 00:03:56,079 The Assads have little desire to help 35 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,380 with the so-called War on Terror. 36 00:03:59,381 --> 00:04:03,479 But Syria is right next door to Iraq, 37 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,780 and the West wants their support. 38 00:04:06,781 --> 00:04:12,999 No-one quite knows which side they're on. 39 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:19,130 They have Western instincts but Middle Eastern roots. 40 00:04:19,131 --> 00:04:25,159 It's clear, though, that they dream of being accepted 41 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,759 as reputable leaders on the international stage. 42 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,799 How are you? Hello. Very nice to meet you. 43 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,199 It sounds as though you've been having a very busy time 44 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,020 since you've been here. 45 00:04:37,021 --> 00:04:41,839 OK, so you were a schoolgirl in West London. 46 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:43,639 You were an investment banker. 47 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:47,039 You are now one of the most powerful women in the Middle East. 48 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,119 How have you coped with that transition 49 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,759 to life in the public eye? 50 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,759 Of course, excuse me for saying this, but the media thought 51 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:02,079 that this is another woman who's going to be oppressed, 52 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,359 and is not going to have an active role in the Middle East. 53 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,799 That wasn't the case. 54 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:12,199 I wanted to get out, 00:05:16,119 Asma wants to be the epitome of a modern First Lady, 56 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:21,679 a beacon of female progress for the Syrian people. 57 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,500 But she's got a problem. 58 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,560 Her in- laws don't share that vision. 59 00:05:48,331 --> 00:05:59,239 None of Asma's in-laws are easy to deal with. 60 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,120 Bashar's sister Bushra. 61 00:06:02,121 --> 00:06:08,319 Bushra reputedly was her father's favourite. 62 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:14,210 I mean, she'd got her father's steely sort of will. 63 00:06:14,211 --> 00:06:18,479 Bushra was a better choice for president, 64 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:24,310 but she hasn't been chosen because she is a woman. 65 00:06:24,311 --> 00:06:29,359 Her husband, a charismatic military leader, who may have eyes 66 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,360 on the presidency himself. 67 00:06:32,361 --> 00:06:38,199 Assef was one of the strongest officers inside the Syrian Army - 68 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,680 and maybe he could challenge Bashar. 69 00:06:41,681 --> 00:06:47,599 Bashar's brother, a man with a violent temper, 70 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,020 Commander of the Republican Guard. 71 00:06:51,021 --> 00:06:55,439 Maher is completely crazy, as far as I'm concerned. 72 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,919 They're all bad, but I think Maher is more on the Saddam Hussein side 73 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,320 of evil people. 74 00:07:03,321 --> 00:07:11,799 And then there's the mother-in-law, said to be the toughest member 75 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,140 of the family. 76 00:07:14,141 --> 00:07:19,479 Since her husband's death in 2000, it's said she favours 77 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,839 maintaining the regime's hard line - 78 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:28,910 but she only expresses her views behind closed doors. 79 00:07:28,911 --> 00:07:32,319 And what are you seeing here in Syria in terms of women's equality, 80 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:33,919 things are moving forward? 81 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,239 Absolutely, but we have a strong base to go on. 82 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,319 Women in Syria have had the vote since 1953. 83 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,879 Um... We have the highest percentage of female parliamentarians 84 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:45,079 in the region. 85 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,559 So, yes, we are moving forward, we're trying to close that gap, 86 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:55,290 the gender gap, and the environment as a whole is very encouraging. 87 00:08:15,431 --> 00:08:26,319 Asma came from a totally different mind-set. 88 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,159 She wants to be part of building 89 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,919 or modernising or doing or participating 90 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,959 at least as a First Lady. 91 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,600 She has a role to run. 92 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,600 Then she discovered, no... 93 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:46,050 ..she wasn't accepted as a member of the family. 94 00:08:46,051 --> 00:08:50,799 Bashar is relatively new in the job as president - 95 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:54,040 and needs his family's support. 96 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,180 So, he allows them to sideline Asma. 97 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:04,770 For now, she's kept out of the limelight. 98 00:09:04,771 --> 00:09:09,279 Asma's problems, though, look small when compared 99 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,560 to Bashar's. 100 00:09:16,561 --> 00:09:22,079 He's inherited from his father 101 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,199 not only a country with a crumbling infrastructure, 102 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:31,919 but one with a dubious reputation for human rights abuses 103 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,999 and funding terrorist groups across the Middle East. 104 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,759 So when America invaded Iraq, Bashar was worried 105 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,640 that Syria might be next. 106 00:09:43,641 --> 00:09:49,319 To slow the Americans down, he released Muslim fundamentalists 107 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,620 from his prisons to fight in Iraq. 108 00:09:52,621 --> 00:09:57,839 Now, though, the Americans have found out what he's been up to, 109 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:02,799 and have him on the list of countries they plan to get in line. 110 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:08,439 Syria still allows its territory to be used by terrorists who seek 111 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,039 to destroy every chance of peace in the region. 112 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:17,690 States like these constitute an axis of evil. 113 00:10:19,251 --> 00:10:29,519 Bashar al-Assad had increasingly problems with everyone - 114 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,400 and it was getting worse. 115 00:10:32,401 --> 00:10:38,319 He was clearly not somebody who was comfortable in his own skin. 116 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,199 This was partially a problem that he had inherited a country 117 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,159 and a regime that he had not built. 118 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,119 And Hafez al-Assad was a brutal man, 119 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,439 but as they would say in Syria, there was a logic to him - 120 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:50,799 you could understand him. 121 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:56,879 Bashar, to this day, 00:10:59,460 in the Middle East. 123 00:11:29,051 --> 00:11:37,919 Bashar, eager to win the world's approval, 124 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,519 flies in an American biographer, David Lesch, 125 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,700 to tell their side of the story. 126 00:11:44,701 --> 00:11:51,919 Between 2004 and 2008, Lesch spends time with Bashar and Asma 127 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:55,280 and records their conversations. 128 00:11:55,281 --> 00:12:03,599 He did regret the fact that he had to give up ophthalmology. 129 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,919 He really liked being an ophthalmologist. 130 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,039 You do an operation, somebody who can't see 131 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:12,719 all of a sudden sees. 132 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:18,879 It's very clear what happens, there is an identifiable result 133 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,280 of your action. 134 00:12:21,281 --> 00:12:27,519 He said, "As president, I hardly ever get that." 135 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,079 He confided in me one time, he said, "I've signed 100 decrees 136 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,440 but only four have gone through." 137 00:12:34,441 --> 00:12:37,039 He said, "And this is a dictator? " HE LAUGHS 138 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:42,959 He said, "I have much less power than most people think." 139 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,439 You know, he inherited a broken-down, dilapidated system. 140 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,679 You know, he had tried to reform some areas of government 141 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:52,440 without much success. 142 00:12:52,441 --> 00:12:55,639 And the old guard came to him and just said, 143 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,919 basically, young man, you can't do this any more 144 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:03,690 because it's going to undermine our positions. 145 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:11,430 Too many people were there that weren't totally devoted to him. 146 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,380 THEY LAUGH 147 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:36,650 But Bashar's problems are about to get worse. 148 00:13:36,651 --> 00:13:41,239 Not only is there a war being fought to the east in Iraq, 149 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:46,039 but to the west, another can of worms is about to be opened - 150 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:47,639 Lebanon. 151 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,719 It's supposed to be a country in its own right, 152 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:56,790 but Syria effectively rules Lebanon like a province. 153 00:13:56,791 --> 00:14:02,239 Now, though, some Lebanese politicians have had enough 154 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,420 and want to get the Syrians out. 155 00:14:05,421 --> 00:14:10,879 They're led by a former Prime Minister, Hariri, 156 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,000 and this man, Walid Jumblatt. 157 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:29,230 Jumblatt has dealt with the Assad family for decades. 158 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:35,250 Bashar, he's different from the father. 159 00:14:35,251 --> 00:14:39,879 The father, when I first shook hands with him, 160 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,519 it was the 40th day 00:14:45,880 and I knew that he was responsible. 162 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:58,430 He looked at me, and said 00:15:07,319 But, with time, we met several times, 164 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:13,270 believe it or not, 00:15:20,510 The father was much more intelligent, subtle. 166 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,180 Bashar, the son, he looks simple. 167 00:15:24,181 --> 00:15:29,799 Sometimes, when you first meet some guy, either you like him 168 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,119 or you dislike him. 169 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,940 We disliked each other. 170 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:43,850 What Jumblatt and Hariri want is to get Syria out of Lebanon. 171 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,700 But that's a problem. 172 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:56,970 Controlling Lebanon 00:16:01,519 Originally, Hafez sent in a peacekeeping force 174 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,580 during Lebanon's civil war. 175 00:16:10,951 --> 00:16:21,159 But then he kept his troops there and slowly took a stranglehold 176 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,700 over Lebanon's politics and economy. 177 00:16:24,701 --> 00:16:29,159 He had to fight two wars against Israel to keep it. 178 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,999 REPORTER: Six weeks ago, the Israelis knocked down 179 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,079 two Syrian MI8 helicopters. 180 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,439 The Syrians promptly deployed their SAM-6s, 181 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,140 and the crisis was on. 182 00:16:39,141 --> 00:16:43,679 It is Israel that wants to destabilise the situation 183 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,039 in Lebanon. 184 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,479 And when Israel attacks us, 185 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,359 what other option will we have but to fight? 186 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,820 LOUD EXPLOSION 187 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,580 In 2000, Israel finally retreated. 188 00:16:59,581 --> 00:17:04,359 And so, for the Assad family, Lebanon is one of Hafez's 189 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:07,060 greatest victories. 190 00:17:09,911 --> 00:17:20,399 The Lebanese people are still unable to exercise 191 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,319 their rights as a free people 192 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:27,679 to make those choices and to take those steps as a nation. 193 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,879 It's important to remember the requirements in that resolution, 194 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:35,919 that Syria cease interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, 195 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,439 and remove Syrian troops for Lebanon. 196 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,919 So we're quite pleased. This was a strong decision 197 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,800 of the Security Council. 198 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:51,119 In September 2004, the UN takes side with Jumblatt and Hariri 199 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:55,759 and issues a resolution 00:17:58,220 once and for all. 201 00:17:58,221 --> 00:18:07,479 So now Bashar has a choice - to get out of Lebanon 202 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,319 and destroy his father's legacy, 203 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:17,439 or ignore the United Nations and look ever more like a rogue state. 204 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:23,450 His family have strong views about what he should do. 205 00:18:23,451 --> 00:18:27,759 It's almost like a Shakespearean drama playing out here. 206 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,759 You've got these key figures in the family that are pushing, 207 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:36,559 they're pushing Hamlet to make a decision. 208 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,119 A withdrawal from Lebanon would've been directly 209 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:44,890 in opposition to what Anisa wanted Bashar to do. 210 00:18:44,891 --> 00:18:50,479 We're not sure if she actually favoured Bashar al-Assad 211 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,360 to be the next president. 212 00:18:53,361 --> 00:18:57,639 When her husband dies, 213 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:04,320 she is very much trying to keep alive his legacy. 214 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:13,570 She is the driving force making sure that the regime stays on track. 215 00:19:14,891 --> 00:19:24,679 At first, Bashar decides to try to tough it out 216 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,860 and ignore the United Nations. 217 00:19:27,861 --> 00:19:37,159 He summons former Prime Minister Hariri for a face-to-face meeting. 218 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,340 It's said he threatens Hariri. 219 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:59,920 INDISTINCT CONVERSATION 220 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:09,030 He came from that meeting totally panicked. 221 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,260 We met here. 222 00:20:12,261 --> 00:20:19,199 I said, look, these people, this regime is dangerous. 223 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,599 I knew the Syrians, I knew their methods 224 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,480 going back to his father. 225 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:49,599 He had this sort of complex from a young age 226 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:54,839 that he was never the chosen one, the most loved one. 227 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:58,839 Bashar was buffeted by his mother probably on the one hand, saying, 228 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:03,959 you know, grow a pair of balls, be a man, man up - 229 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,839 and felt that he was constantly trying to prove himself 230 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,180 to his mother. 231 00:21:10,181 --> 00:21:16,439 Here was Hariri getting too big for his boots, 232 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,919 and Bashar's thinking, "There's no way he would've done this 233 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:24,810 "to my father. I'm going to teach this guy respect." 234 00:21:44,411 --> 00:21:54,759 Then, in Beirut, the Lebanese capital... 235 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,340 . .a car bomb goes off. 236 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:06,800 SIRENS 237 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:15,279 SHOUTING 238 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,199 NEWSREADER: A massive car bomb has exploded 239 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,159 in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut, 240 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:24,519 killing the country's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. 241 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:29,759 Hariri, the Lebanese politician at the centre of Bashar's problems, 242 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,220 has been killed. 243 00:22:32,221 --> 00:22:38,239 It's not easy to learn that one of your closest friends 244 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,700 has been killed. 245 00:22:40,701 --> 00:22:46,639 And I was the first one to announce to the crowd inside the House 246 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:51,990 that Rafic Hariri was killed, was dead. 247 00:22:51,991 --> 00:22:57,479 Two weeks before his killing, as if he had a hint 248 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,039 that something will happen to him, he said, 249 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,639 "Look, I think they will either kill you or kill me." 250 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,100 They killed him. 251 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,920 All eyes turned to Syria. 252 00:23:21,921 --> 00:23:26,559 REPORTER: The assassination sparked off a far-reaching political crisis 253 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,919 amidst suspicions Syria was involved. 254 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,159 The assassination could not have been undertaken 255 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,839 without the knowledge of senior figures in Syrian intelligence. 256 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:41,519 This United Nations would be seriously and significantly 257 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:47,039 undermined if we were to turn a blind eye to such activities. 258 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:51,079 The United Nations launches a major criminal investigation 259 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:57,810 and appoints a special investigator to find out who killed Hariri. 260 00:23:57,811 --> 00:24:01,119 Witnesses from inside Syria's intelligence network 261 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:05,679 name Bashar's brother Maher and his brother-in-law Assef 262 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,100 as being behind the assassination. 263 00:24:09,101 --> 00:24:13,999 Assef Shawkat, 00:24:17,319 led several meetings with senior Lebanese security officials 265 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:23,690 to plan the attack, some in the Syrian presidential palace. 266 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:30,490 Assef Shawkat was one of the most amazing figures in Damascus. 267 00:24:30,491 --> 00:24:33,719 He's aggressive, 268 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,759 and he knew what he wanted, 269 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,639 and he always was a warrior. 270 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,060 He would fight to achieve his goals. 271 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:50,150 And you can tell that this man is very, very ambitious. 272 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,040 Very, very ambitious. 273 00:24:53,041 --> 00:24:59,159 So now the world wants to know, has Bashar's brother-in-law 274 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,879 taken the matter into his own hands, 275 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:07,650 or was it Bashar who ultimately gave the order? 276 00:25:07,651 --> 00:25:11,679 How did you first hear about the assassination? 277 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:13,959 Er, through the news. 278 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:15,799 I was in my office. 279 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,479 As you know, because you've read it and we've read it, 280 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,159 there are witnesses who have said that 281 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,519 during one of Mr Hariri's last visits to Damascus, 282 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:28,279 he was threatened by you. Did you threaten him, sir? 283 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,599 This is another illegal presumption. 284 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:34,119 First of all, it's not my nature to threaten anybody. 285 00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:37,879 It's, er... I'm a very quiet person, and very frank, 286 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,799 but I wouldn't threaten. 287 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:44,479 Would you have ordered such an assassination? 288 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,719 This is against our principle and my principle, 289 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,839 and I would never do such a thing in my life. 290 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:53,959 What do we achieve? What do we achieve? 291 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,879 I think what happened targeted Syria, that will affect our relation 292 00:25:57,880 --> 00:25:59,999 with the Lebanese people. 293 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,839 So we wouldn't do it because it's against our interests 294 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,199 and it's against my principle. I would never do it, it's impossible. 295 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,319 APPLAUSE 296 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:13,999 The pressure on Bashar to leave Lebanon continues to grow. 297 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,879 Syria, you get your troops and your secret services out of Lebanon 298 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,719 so that good democracy has the chance to flourish. 299 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,159 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 300 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:30,239 Suddenly, Bashar is in uncharted territory, 301 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,559 and he has to make a decision. 302 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,199 I mean, regime change was something that was very much at the top 303 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,999 of his mind, that he could effectively be toppled 304 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,760 by a US-led coalition. 305 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:48,590 He actually felt a real threat that he could go. 306 00:26:48,591 --> 00:26:54,479 Then, in March, just four weeks after Hariri's death, 307 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:59,479 Bashar caves in and agrees to withdraw from Lebanon. 308 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,999 NEWSREADER: In response to mounting international pressure, 309 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,159 Syria looks set to begin pulling its troops out of Lebanon. 310 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:11,559 An announcement is expected from Syria's President Assad tomorrow. 311 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:15,759 The family response was, 00:27:21,290 It's like you've lost the family heirloom. 313 00:27:21,291 --> 00:27:27,719 His mother was upset and angered with her son. 314 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,479 This was part of their legacy. 315 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,999 He'd disappointed his mother, he'd disappointed his father. 316 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,799 There was no room for negotiation on this, 317 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,680 according to his mother. 318 00:27:38,681 --> 00:27:45,079 At that moment, it was very personal. 319 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:50,319 It was very personal, and the regime was isolated. 320 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:55,910 That's when I felt that it became emotional. 321 00:28:08,951 --> 00:28:18,559 And so it seems it's all gone wrong for Bashar. 322 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,759 He's been forced to give up his father's legacy 323 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:24,959 and, rather than making Syria look respectable, 324 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:29,479 they look ever more like the axis of evil. 325 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:34,279 I think this was the toughest period in his presidency, 326 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:39,719 because the whole international situation was hostile. 327 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:45,790 It was perceived as a direct threat to Bashar himself. 328 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,180 He was a man... 329 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,240 . .uncertain of himself. 330 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:10,370 For Asma, this is not the First Lady job as she would've imagined it. 331 00:29:10,371 --> 00:29:18,519 Her in-laws and husband are the key suspects 332 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:24,050 in a United Nations murder investigation. 333 00:29:24,051 --> 00:29:34,199 There were lots of rumours about Asma being in seclusion. 334 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:39,430 And she did drop out of the limelight. 335 00:29:39,431 --> 00:29:45,319 I remember seeing her for the first time after the Hariri assassination, 336 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:48,919 and I could hear all of the Syrian ladies around me 337 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:54,810 saying how thin she was, and they were whispering. 338 00:29:54,811 --> 00:29:57,239 And they were wondering, I think, what was going on 339 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,559 inside of her family, and maybe inside of her mind. 340 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,799 Because everyone knew 00:30:09,990 that the Asma al-Assad we had come to know wanted it to go. 342 00:30:09,991 --> 00:30:14,359 I think it was the start for Asma, 343 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,519 that you have to fasten your seat belt. 344 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:22,719 Because you are actually going on a long struggle 345 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,060 with this man. 346 00:30:25,061 --> 00:30:30,079 You know, when you are married, in a way you are stuck as an Arab 347 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,600 and Muslim woman. 348 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,879 There is no way back for her. 349 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:39,799 Now for her it's the battle of survival. 350 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:43,519 Her survival, her children, her husband and her status 351 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,040 as the First Lady. 352 00:30:46,041 --> 00:30:52,599 So she stays by Bashar's side through it all... 353 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:57,199 ..and then an opportunity emerges that could help them distance 354 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,740 themselves from the Lebanon scandal. 355 00:31:07,691 --> 00:31:17,519 This morning, here in Rome, one of the most remarkable popes 356 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:21,119 of all time will be laid to rest. 357 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:27,250 They will all unite to say farewell to Pope John Paul II. 358 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:42,150 They seized this opportunity, because the Vatican cannot say no. 359 00:31:42,151 --> 00:31:45,319 They can't say, "Don't come to the funeral." 360 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:51,090 Anybody who would 00:31:59,970 And they know that there will be 150 heads of state. 362 00:31:59,971 --> 00:32:05,519 So it's a way to say, Everything is normal." 363 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:06,759 Hariri? 364 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,079 Us? 365 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,079 Come on. We're there, it's our place. 366 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,039 We're in the middle of the King of Spain, 367 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:20,279 Tony Blair, etc. We're like these people. 368 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:28,039 But I was really amazed by the way that Asma was moving in a way 369 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,680 to bump into people. 370 00:32:30,681 --> 00:32:34,719 To be like a magnet to attract. Here, 371 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,399 you see her talking with Cherie Blair. 372 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:40,079 Tony Blair. 373 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:45,559 So the Assads are roaming, more or less, towards them and he escaped 374 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:50,359 but Cherie Blair stayed to say hi to Asma. 375 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:57,030 Because Asma is such a nice person. She is lovely, she is beautiful. 376 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:06,210 She was definitely looking for that kind of image. 377 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:13,570 I think she realises how valuable she is. 378 00:33:13,571 --> 00:33:18,919 She uses herself as the asset in the crisis, you know, 379 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:24,690 to break the crisis, this is what I am going to do. 380 00:33:24,691 --> 00:33:29,919 I think Bashar realised that her presence could save him 381 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:33,999 in a way, because their focus would not be only on what 382 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:38,559 he has done. The focus 00:33:43,599 and her beautiful hair and her smile. 384 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:48,279 And I think that gives him confidence. 385 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:53,690 Bashar was much more powerful with Asma. 386 00:33:53,691 --> 00:34:00,679 And that's why she had to be under the limelight, 387 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:04,199 to distract the world 00:34:06,540 of the Assads. 389 00:34:16,481 --> 00:34:20,319 Later in 2005, Bashar 390 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:24,359 starts to change the power dynamic 391 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,660 inside the presidential palace. 392 00:34:27,661 --> 00:34:31,919 He gets rid of the old guard, the last remnants of his father's 393 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,080 advisers... 394 00:34:34,081 --> 00:34:36,999 ..and carefully removes power from his 395 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:42,710 problematic brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat. 396 00:35:19,331 --> 00:35:28,399 And as he grabs the reins at home, he also takes 397 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,159 a tougher approach abroad. 398 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:34,039 He refuses to cooperate with the UN investigation 399 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,980 into the murder of Hariri. 400 00:35:36,981 --> 00:35:41,559 And then that investigation gets waylaid... 401 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,800 ..by some unexplained incidents. 402 00:35:44,801 --> 00:35:50,199 A car bomb kills a Lebanese investigator. 403 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:54,079 A key suspect gives a statement to the UN. 404 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:59,670 But the next day, commits apparent suicide. 405 00:35:59,671 --> 00:36:04,279 The star witness decides to take back his entire statement, live 406 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:06,860 on Syrian state TV. 407 00:36:06,861 --> 00:36:13,519 And a spy, thought to be involved, is found at his home with a bullet 408 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:15,159 in his head. 409 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,800 Shot at from the sea. 410 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:25,370 The UN chief investigator quits, saying he is in fear of his life. 411 00:36:25,371 --> 00:36:29,719 The case against the Syrian regime collapses. 412 00:36:29,720 --> 00:36:33,319 And so if they did order the killing of Hariri, they've got 413 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:35,840 away with murder. 414 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,359 RHYTHMIC APPLAUSE 415 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:53,850 What the Syrian regime managed to do, is just to escape from it. 416 00:36:53,851 --> 00:36:58,599 He believes that, sure, 00:37:01,540 that the West are cowards. 418 00:37:01,541 --> 00:37:08,399 And being able to survive it had shown him that the more 419 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:12,359 you are tough, the more you don't make any concessions, 420 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:15,060 the more you succeed. 421 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,240 CHANTING 422 00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:32,060 He was tested. 423 00:37:32,061 --> 00:37:38,239 He was tested in 9/11, tested in the Iraq war, 424 00:37:38,240 --> 00:37:40,879 tested in Lebanon, 425 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:44,039 and for him he overcame 426 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:47,160 all the crisis, all the tests. 427 00:37:47,161 --> 00:37:52,479 And he passed, and now he's much more confident. 428 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:57,239 He looks at himself differently, I think. 429 00:37:57,240 --> 00:38:02,639 Bashar Al-Assad is under huge pressure, yet when I met him 430 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:05,799 yesterday he was calm 00:38:09,280 precision about his choice of words. 432 00:38:09,281 --> 00:38:12,959 The United States has publicly said that Syria is a member 433 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:15,719 of an axis of evil. 434 00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:19,119 How do you regard that view of your country and what can 435 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:20,999 you do about it? 436 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:23,199 Everybody cares about his reputation, 437 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:25,199 but we care more about the reality. 438 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:27,839 The biggest mistake they committed in the West, 439 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:32,479 they use the labels as a base for political actions. 440 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:33,879 There is a big difference. 441 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,999 It doesn't matter what you label organisations or people 442 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:39,839 or countries, the most important things in politics, 443 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:41,679 do they have effects or not? 444 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:43,919 As long as they are effective on the ground, 445 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,440 among the people. 446 00:38:46,441 --> 00:38:49,279 He is a sophisticated chap, isn't he? 447 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:52,039 He is quite impressive, yes. In fact, he's very impressive. 448 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:56,719 I used to think he might be directed by a gang of his pretty rough 449 00:38:56,720 --> 00:38:59,239 father's old, sort of, cronies. 450 00:38:59,240 --> 00:39:04,470 That doesn't seem to me to be the case. 451 00:39:04,471 --> 00:39:09,639 As Bashar takes more control of his family, 452 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:15,590 the nature of their relationships start to change. 453 00:39:15,591 --> 00:39:19,519 Bushra, Bashar's sister, starts spending more and more time 454 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:22,220 at her house in Dubai. 455 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:32,440 Which is good news for Asma. 456 00:39:32,441 --> 00:39:37,399 The relationship with Bushra was very fraught. 457 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:40,919 Suddenly, you know, 00:39:44,100 if you like, is no longer there. 459 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:53,479 Her footing is much firmer and now she can challenge even the mother, 460 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:56,540 which apparently happened. 461 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:04,370 The mother, I think she became sidelined, eventually. 462 00:40:04,371 --> 00:40:06,679 Hello. 463 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:08,199 CROWD: Hello. 464 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:11,359 Ladies and ladies. 465 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:13,239 And some gentlemen. 466 00:40:13,240 --> 00:40:14,519 Good evening. 467 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:17,559 A very, very, very warm Syrian welcome to each and every one 468 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:23,510 of you who've made the trip to this part of the world. 469 00:40:26,291 --> 00:40:38,999 Asma grew up in the period of PR and Princess Diana in Britain. 470 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:43,879 Princess Diana had represented an example of how somebody 471 00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:50,440 can be seen to be both Royal and also close to the people. 472 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:54,920 She becomes engrossed in charity... 473 00:40:54,921 --> 00:40:58,879 ..championing certain issues. 474 00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:04,359 223 remarkable women, by the time you ladies go home 475 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:07,839 you would have cycled over 350km. 476 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:10,479 I am an investment banker 00:41:13,039 so numbers to me are like milk to a baby, 478 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:18,390 it's just something I'm familiar with. 479 00:41:18,391 --> 00:41:21,559 Asma is very ambitious. 480 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:27,039 She was relishing the opportunity to be seen in that light. 481 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:32,199 It fitted with who she wanted to be seen as. 482 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:36,559 There are over two million refugees living in Syria today. 483 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:38,239 1.4 million... 484 00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:42,719 I think she was sincere in wanting to help. 485 00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:45,719 She could have just hung out and drank tea, 486 00:41:45,720 --> 00:41:47,999 and she didn't. 487 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:50,199 Education has to be relevant. 488 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,439 And at the pace that the world is changing, it's sometimes hard 489 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:54,639 to keep up. 490 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:57,159 But she also got a lot out of it. 491 00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:02,510 She wanted to be the First Lady of Syria. 492 00:42:02,511 --> 00:42:05,839 There was this other strange part of her personality which, 493 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:11,610 I think, power became very important over time. 494 00:42:13,351 --> 00:42:22,439 And so Asma becomes a new kind of entity, 495 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:28,630 a modern First Lady 00:42:50,559 You are the first First Lady of Syria. The wife of your husband's 497 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:53,839 father never took an active role. 498 00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,959 Have you run up against people who say Mrs Assad 499 00:42:56,960 --> 00:42:59,999 should not be in the public sphere? 500 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:05,879 I genuinely believe that Syrians are committed to the process 501 00:43:05,880 --> 00:43:07,519 that we've started, 502 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:09,999 whether it is me playing a role 503 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:16,010 as a First Lady, or me playing a role as an individual. 504 00:43:30,771 --> 00:43:39,439 I don't want to spend any more time talking up here, 505 00:43:39,440 --> 00:43:41,719 I would rather spend more of the time talking 506 00:43:41,720 --> 00:43:44,660 with you ladies directly. 507 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:51,230 Anyway, thank you so much for coming. 508 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:06,040 2007 is an election year. 509 00:44:12,411 --> 00:44:23,119 It's the second time his presidency has been voted on. 510 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:26,799 And although, as usual, his name is the only one on the ballot, 511 00:44:26,800 --> 00:44:30,359 those that know him say that it marks a turning point 512 00:44:30,360 --> 00:44:32,940 in his psychology. 513 00:44:34,371 --> 00:44:46,239 There was a real contrast, I mean for me as a photographer, 514 00:44:46,240 --> 00:44:48,199 but also as a Syrian, 515 00:44:48,200 --> 00:44:51,599 between the first years of Bashar, 516 00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:57,759 one of his main decisions was to say, "No portraits of me, 517 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:01,239 "no statues, no songs, no portrait of me. 518 00:45:01,240 --> 00:45:03,880 "Enough with this." 519 00:45:03,881 --> 00:45:08,199 It was a good step towards modernity. 520 00:45:08,200 --> 00:45:14,570 And then, five years later, we're back to the same old story. 521 00:45:24,440 --> 00:45:27,080 Portraits are back. 522 00:45:27,960 --> 00:45:30,180 Songs, etc. 523 00:45:30,181 --> 00:45:37,639 The young eye doctor from London has disappeared and is now tough 524 00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:42,870 and clearly in charge of the country. 525 00:45:46,560 --> 00:45:52,570 I was visiting Bashar to coincide with the election. 526 00:45:52,571 --> 00:45:58,079 And by then, it had been clear he had won 97% of the vote 527 00:45:58,080 --> 00:46:03,639 and the Bashar I thought I knew, I thought he would just pooh-pooh 528 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:06,879 the whole thing, I thought he would say, "It's mostly arranged, 529 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:13,079 I know I'm the only one on it, so what else are they going to do?" 530 00:46:13,080 --> 00:46:15,879 But he said something quite different and it told me a lot 531 00:46:15,880 --> 00:46:22,010 about him and perhaps the changes that occurred in him. 532 00:46:22,011 --> 00:46:24,079 And he said, "they love me." 533 00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:25,119 They love me. 534 00:46:25,120 --> 00:46:28,300 This shows that they love me." 535 00:46:28,301 --> 00:46:38,119 Was there genuine enthusiasm and perhaps popularity for Bashar? 536 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:39,959 Sure. 537 00:46:39,960 --> 00:46:42,180 But not 97%. 538 00:46:42,181 --> 00:46:48,639 And I just sat back and I thought to myself, 539 00:46:48,640 --> 00:46:54,110 Wow, you've drunk the Kool Aid of power." 540 00:46:54,400 --> 00:47:00,110 I said, "Well, 00:47:14,559 A victory celebration takes place. Tens of thousands gather 542 00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:16,799 in Damascus... 543 00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:19,159 ..wearing T-shirts with his face on, 544 00:47:19,160 --> 00:47:20,879 chanting his name, 545 00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:23,640 and carrying torches. 546 00:47:42,731 --> 00:47:52,199 You get this reinforcement that you are right in what 547 00:47:52,200 --> 00:47:55,839 you're doing, the fact that the people are adoring you. 548 00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:58,999 Out in the streets, praising you. 549 00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:00,479 He said to himself, 550 00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:03,479 Now I understand what my father did." 551 00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:06,639 Now I understand why 00:48:10,679 And if that countered the morality 553 00:48:10,680 --> 00:48:14,279 that perhaps he brought into office, 554 00:48:14,280 --> 00:48:19,639 he maybe constructed a different set of morals, where the ends 555 00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:22,220 justify the means. 556 00:48:22,221 --> 00:48:29,039 While the public still holds out hope for reforms, 557 00:48:29,040 --> 00:48:32,959 in reality, Bashar's regime clamps down even harder 558 00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:35,780 than it did under Hafez. 559 00:48:35,781 --> 00:48:43,879 More and more writers and political activists are sent to prison, 560 00:48:43,880 --> 00:48:46,119 often without trial. 561 00:48:46,120 --> 00:48:51,950 Many facing torture for criticising the regime. 562 00:48:51,951 --> 00:48:56,759 The man who keeps the Syrian people in line is Bashar's brother, 563 00:48:56,760 --> 00:48:58,740 Maher. 564 00:49:02,200 --> 00:49:07,960 Maher is the third boy after Bassel and Bashar. 565 00:49:08,831 --> 00:49:18,439 He's the one that was always used to frighten people. 566 00:49:18,440 --> 00:49:24,090 The same as they were using Rifaat, the uncle. 567 00:49:24,091 --> 00:49:31,399 They always have the second man in the family, 568 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:36,119 that is the one that frightens the others. 569 00:49:36,120 --> 00:49:39,959 You are all good, nice and we are open, 570 00:49:39,960 --> 00:49:43,279 we forgive anyone who do any harm to us. But the problem 571 00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:46,479 is, that guy is the bad guy, he will do something so bad, 572 00:49:46,480 --> 00:49:48,959 he will torture you and kill you and kill all your family, 573 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:51,900 destroy all your village. 574 00:50:30,511 --> 00:50:43,399 In 2008, Maher's actions start spilling out into the public arena. 575 00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:45,560 GUNSHOTS 576 00:50:50,880 --> 00:50:54,040 GUNSHOTS CONTINUE 577 00:50:54,091 --> 00:51:03,679 When prisoners protest against torture, their revolt 578 00:51:03,680 --> 00:51:06,380 is brutally crushed. 579 00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:12,280 17 prisoners are killed. 580 00:51:12,281 --> 00:51:18,839 And then, footage emerges 00:51:21,720 Regiment and civilians. 582 00:51:24,120 --> 00:51:30,190 It looks like the man 00:51:41,200 MUSIC: La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf 584 00:51:54,051 --> 00:52:02,759 With the Iraq war now in its fifth year, 585 00:52:02,760 --> 00:52:08,830 French President Sarkozy now invites them for talks. 586 00:52:08,831 --> 00:52:15,199 At that time, I felt 00:52:17,519 because if they want to talk about the peace process, 588 00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:19,319 Syria is essential. 589 00:52:19,320 --> 00:52:22,559 If they want to talk about fighting terrorism, 590 00:52:22,560 --> 00:52:24,999 Syria is essential. 591 00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:28,120 They say it takes two to tango. 592 00:52:30,211 --> 00:52:41,039 At this point the Assads go on a big publicity drive. 593 00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:44,559 They hire three PR firms, commission portraits 594 00:52:44,560 --> 00:52:47,620 from famous photographers... 595 00:52:47,621 --> 00:52:53,879 ..and give access to a French documentary team. 596 00:52:53,880 --> 00:52:57,159 Thank you. Pleased to meet you. 597 00:52:57,160 --> 00:52:59,159 Did we keep you waiting? 598 00:52:59,160 --> 00:53:01,799 No, it's all right. 599 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:06,039 We don't like to keep people waiting. 600 00:53:06,040 --> 00:53:08,599 You can turn your face, I know it is dangerous, 601 00:53:08,600 --> 00:53:11,000 just to see you. 602 00:53:11,001 --> 00:53:14,159 And you drive alone? 603 00:53:14,160 --> 00:53:15,279 Most of the time. 604 00:53:15,280 --> 00:53:19,679 Whenever I go to the palace, I only drive myself. 605 00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:21,199 But it is very un-secure. 606 00:53:21,200 --> 00:53:24,759 No, no, no. Syria is a very secure country, it is not bulletproof 607 00:53:24,760 --> 00:53:27,760 and you can open the window. 608 00:53:27,761 --> 00:53:33,519 Especially when we drive, 00:53:36,079 about three hours driving, this is the most enjoyable 610 00:53:36,080 --> 00:53:37,599 thing for me. 611 00:53:37,600 --> 00:53:43,479 I think what's incredible is not how he drives, 612 00:53:43,480 --> 00:53:47,559 it's the fact that he can listen to all of us in the car 613 00:53:47,560 --> 00:53:49,599 for three hours. I listen to the music. 614 00:53:49,600 --> 00:53:52,919 So there are three kids, there's me, music, and he can put up with 615 00:53:52,920 --> 00:53:55,719 that for three hours and he's still smiling when we get there. 616 00:53:55,720 --> 00:53:59,080 That's the most incredible thing. 617 00:54:02,160 --> 00:54:05,999 They are great actors and actresses. 618 00:54:06,000 --> 00:54:08,759 So when you go to Damascus, 619 00:54:08,760 --> 00:54:12,319 when you meet Bashar, when you meet his family, 620 00:54:12,320 --> 00:54:16,199 you know that there is 00:54:18,520 For us. 622 00:54:21,881 --> 00:54:26,799 He has many faces. 623 00:54:26,800 --> 00:54:29,439 He is a multi-faces man. 624 00:54:29,440 --> 00:54:33,359 He looks gentle, open-minded, 625 00:54:33,360 --> 00:54:38,839 then he is the tough politician, 626 00:54:38,840 --> 00:54:41,540 then he is the killer. 627 00:54:44,171 --> 00:54:55,639 You can be reformative and you can be conservatively 628 00:54:55,640 --> 00:54:59,719 reformative, because, as I just told you, I am reformative, 629 00:54:59,720 --> 00:55:02,839 so we are moving forward. 630 00:55:02,840 --> 00:55:04,799 Slowly, but surely. 631 00:55:04,800 --> 00:55:08,559 We have to be a stable country, especially as the problems started 632 00:55:08,560 --> 00:55:10,759 after I became president. 633 00:55:10,760 --> 00:55:14,999 He said, Christian, why don't we go together 634 00:55:15,000 --> 00:55:16,879 to the opera? 635 00:55:16,880 --> 00:55:20,800 CHEERING 636 00:55:28,731 --> 00:55:37,239 Of course, all the people invited to the opera 637 00:55:37,240 --> 00:55:40,180 were supporters of Assad. 638 00:55:43,840 --> 00:55:46,960 So it was a big mise-en-scene. 639 00:55:46,961 --> 00:55:52,399 Bashar was driving the car and he said, 640 00:55:52,400 --> 00:55:55,599 "Look at that. No, I don't need any security. Here we are free, 641 00:55:55,600 --> 00:55:59,479 "we move freely, we have no problems." 642 00:55:59,480 --> 00:56:04,770 Security, you can see around. Come on! 643 00:56:05,640 --> 00:56:08,760 They have people everywhere. 644 00:56:08,761 --> 00:56:12,959 The third thing is something about me, about the way I live 645 00:56:12,960 --> 00:56:16,199 as a politician, is the transparency. 646 00:56:16,200 --> 00:56:19,559 Be as transparent as you can with the people. 647 00:56:19,560 --> 00:56:21,119 This is very important. 648 00:56:21,120 --> 00:56:23,159 Say, "I did a mistake..." 649 00:56:23,160 --> 00:56:28,399 There is a division between image and reality. 650 00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:31,919 Once you're fully signed up, once you can maybe separate in 651 00:56:31,920 --> 00:56:35,519 your mind the horrors 00:56:38,319 them somewhere in your brain, where you don't have to access them 653 00:56:38,320 --> 00:56:40,599 on a regular basis, and convince yourself 654 00:56:40,600 --> 00:56:44,599 that you are part of a different agenda, 655 00:56:44,600 --> 00:56:47,600 then you'll live with that. 656 00:56:57,361 --> 00:57:00,199 OK. 657 00:57:00,200 --> 00:57:03,240 INAUDIBLE 658 00:57:10,240 --> 00:57:14,639 One time, my children asked him, 659 00:57:14,640 --> 00:57:17,199 my daughter asked him, 660 00:57:17,200 --> 00:57:19,720 "What do you do?" 661 00:57:20,800 --> 00:57:27,410 She was trying to understand - what does it mean to be President? 662 00:57:27,411 --> 00:57:32,639 And so she asked him, she said to him, 663 00:57:32,640 --> 00:57:34,999 "Papa, what do you do? 664 00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:38,060 "We know you go to the office. 665 00:57:40,720 --> 00:57:43,900 "And we see you on TV sometimes. 666 00:57:45,440 --> 00:57:48,080 "What is it you do?" 667 00:57:50,600 --> 00:57:56,070 And he said to her, "I try and help people." 668 00:58:08,161 --> 00:58:12,679 There really was a sense 669 00:58:12,680 --> 00:58:15,980 that Assad was going to step down. 670 00:58:27,960 --> 00:58:34,270 He was using the ghost of his father as leverage to fight on. 671 00:58:39,160 --> 00:58:42,160 EXPLOSION 672 00:58:42,210 --> 00:58:46,760 Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0 55387

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