Let's have a GeograTalk.

讓我們進行一次地理對話。

So, first off, I don't typically make this type of video on my channel because this is not a news channel.

首先，我通常不會在我的頻道上製作這種類型的視頻，因為這不是一個新聞頻道。

I don't do the news.

我不做新聞。

You know, I try to focus more on long-term content that can be re-watched and it's not confined to a specific date.

你知道，我嘗試把更多精力放在可以重複觀看的長期內容上，而且不侷限於某個特定的日期。

But once in a while, a global event occurs that kind of, at the very least, I guess, urges me to give you guys an update in regards to a previous video on the channel or content I've made because the world is ever-shifting and evolving and that's just kind of how things are.

但偶爾也會發生一些全球性事件，至少，我想，這些事件會敦促我給你們更新一下頻道上以前的視頻或我製作的內容，因為世界是不斷變化和發展的，事情就是這樣。

So, as you know, we made the Syria episode back in 2021.

大家都知道，我們早在 2021 年就製作了敘利亞一集。

And back in those days, it was still under the Assad regime.

而那時，阿薩德政權還在。

You know, I'm gonna stand...

你知道，我要站...

What the hell?

搞什麼鬼？

I'm gonna sit over here.

我要坐在這裡

It's more...

它更...

I'll be offset so I can put images in this corner.

我的位置會偏移，這樣就可以把圖片放在這個角落裡。

The Assad regime.

阿薩德政權

And before I made this video, I deliberately wanted to kind of take the intention to slowly try my best to understand the complicated situation because, I mean, for one, obviously, I'm not Syrian.

在製作這段視頻之前，我特意想花點心思，慢慢地盡力去了解這一複雜的情況，因為，我的意思是，首先，很明顯，我不是敘利亞人。

I don't have any direct connections to Syria.

我與敘利亞沒有任何直接聯繫。

I admit I don't follow everything that happens in Syria.

我承認，我並不關注敘利亞發生的一切。

Prior to this, I kind of had like an outer, cross-basic understanding of the Assad regime and its father, blah, blah, blah.

在此之前，我對阿薩德政權和它的父親，諸如此類，有一種外在的，跨基礎的瞭解。

But I didn't really know all the small little details that led up to this point.

但我並不真正瞭解導致這一點的所有小細節。

So I deliberately made a post on all of my social medias asking you guys, my Syrian geograpeeps, to help me.

是以，我特意在我所有的社交媒體上發了一個帖子，請求你們--我的敘利亞地理夥伴們--幫助我。

I wanted to hear from you guys.

我想聽聽你們的意見。

I wanted you to kind of give me your input on what you thought was appropriate to say.

我希望你們能給我一些意見，告訴我你們認為說什麼合適。

And I got a lot of responses.

我得到了很多回應。

I got a lot of Syrian subscribers.

我有很多敘利亞用戶。

And even some of my subscribers were actually in Syria, experiencing it as it was going on.

甚至我的一些訂閱者實際上也在敘利亞，親身經歷了當時的情況。

I read your messages and they were very helpful to helping me understand this.

我讀了你的留言，它們對我理解這一點很有幫助。

So for the sake of brevity, I'm just going to try to condense this as quick as possible because I know you guys want me to get to the point.

是以，為了簡潔起見，我將盡可能快地壓縮篇幅，因為我知道你們希望我直奔主題。

I want to get to the point, okay?

我想說重點，好嗎？

Essentially, the Assad regime has been toppled.

從根本上說，阿薩德政權已經被推翻。

But before we even get into all that, I have to kind of give you guys a little bit of backstory on how everything even kind of led up to this.

不過，在談這些之前，我得先給你們講講這一切的來龍去脈。

So you have to understand, Syria has gone through a lot in the past two decades, let alone five decades of dictatorship.

是以，你必須明白，敘利亞在過去二十年裡經歷了很多，更不用說五十年的獨裁統治了。

So Bashar al-Assad is the son of his father.

所以，巴沙爾-阿薩德是他父親的兒子。

Duh.

咄。

Oh my god, I can't believe I...

哦，我的上帝，我不能相信我...

So before Bashar al-Assad, his father, Hafez, was in charge.

是以，在巴沙爾-阿薩德之前，他的父親哈菲茲掌權。

And it all started in 1970.

而這一切都始於 1970 年。

Long story short, during this time, the Assad regime power vacuum became super evident.

長話短說，在此期間，阿薩德政權的權力真空變得超級明顯。

The most heinous and notorious incident being the Hama massacre in the 80s.

最令人髮指和臭名昭著的事件是 80 年代的哈馬大屠殺。

Basically, in Hama, people were protesting and they were trying to oppose him.

基本上，在哈馬，人們都在抗議，試圖反對他。

He sent in troops, surrounded the city, and absolutely struck down tens of thousands of his own civilians.

他派出軍隊，包圍了這座城市，並痛擊了數以萬計的本國平民。

It was done as a means to send a message to not defy him.

這樣做是為了傳達一個資訊：不要違抗他。

After he passed away in 2000, just like any other absolutely legit democratic state, what do you think happened?

2000 年他去世後，就像其他絕對合法的民主國家一樣，你認為發生了什麼？

They held an election.

他們舉行了一次選舉。

And oh by golly gosh, his son was on the ballot.

天哪，他的兒子也在選票上。

And before he even ran for presidency, there was actually a law that said you had to be at least 40 years old to be president, but they changed the law just at the right time to 34.

在他競選總統之前，實際上有一條法律規定，至少要年滿 40 歲才能當總統，但他們恰到好處地把這條法律改成了 34 歲。

And oh, how convenient, he was 34 at the time.

哦，多方便啊，當時他 34 歲。

I mean, that checks out in my book, nothing suspicious.

我的意思是，這在我看來沒什麼可疑的。

So while all of this is happening, factions of rebel groups start to brew up.

是以，在這一切發生的同時，各派反叛組織也開始醞釀起來。

And there are three main key players you gotta know in this equation.

在這個等式中，你必須知道三個主要的關鍵角色。

The SNA, or the Syrian National Army.

SNA，即敘利亞國民軍。

They controlled the northern areas bordering Turkey.

他們控制著與土耳其接壤的北部地區。

This group was mostly supported by Turkey, as Erdogan announced in 2011 that he was completely against the Assad regime.

這個組織主要得到土耳其的支持，因為埃爾多安在 2011 年宣佈他完全反對阿薩德政權。

The SDF, or Syrian Democratic Forces.

SDF 即敘利亞民主軍。

This is a militant group that is primarily made up of Kurdish peoples.

這是一個主要由庫爾德人組成的激進組織。

These people operated mostly in the northeastern part of Syria that also bordered Turkey.

這些人主要在與土耳其接壤的敘利亞東北部活動。

The Kurdish faction was aligned with many western and middle eastern powers like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, USA, UK.

庫爾德派與沙特阿拉伯、阿聯酋、美國、英國等許多西方和中東大國結盟。

And Turkey didn't really like them as much, partially because a lot of the militants in the SDF had ties to the PKK.

土耳其並不太喜歡他們，部分原因是自衛隊中的許多武裝分子與庫爾德工人黨有聯繫。

And if you know anything about Turkey, the PKK is a whole other complicated story of controversy.

如果你對土耳其有所瞭解，那麼庫爾德工人黨就是另一個充滿爭議的複雜故事。

But anyway, mostly Kurdish militants.

但不管怎麼說，大部分是庫爾德武裝分子。

And finally, the HTS, or the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Abu Muhammad al-Jolani.

最後是阿布-穆罕默德-約拉尼（Abu Muhammad al-Jolani）上司的 HTS，即 "沙姆游擊隊"（Hayat Tahrir al-Sham）。

Sorry if I butchered any of that.

如果我說錯了，請原諒。

So the HTS wasn't directly allied with any nation state completely.

是以，半邊天並沒有完全與任何民族國家直接結盟。

Most of their allies were other regional militant groups, such as the Turkestan Islamic Party, the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, the Army of Glory, and they also worked with the SNA sometimes as well.

他們的盟友大多是其他地區的激進組織，如突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨、敘利亞穆斯林兄弟會、光榮軍，有時也與敘利亞國民軍合作。

This is probably the most important one, because this is the military faction that actually led the downfall of Assad's regime.

這可能是最重要的一個派別，因為正是這個軍事派別實際上導致了阿薩德政權的垮臺。

So in December of 2024, the HTS marched into Damascus, who essentially ousted Assad, who fled and is now in exile in Russia, as his government party was supported by Russia and Iran.

是以，在 2024 年 12 月，HTS 進軍大馬士革，基本上推翻了阿薩德，阿薩德出逃，現在流亡俄羅斯，因為他的政府黨得到了俄羅斯和伊朗的支持。

And it was a very covert operation.

這是一次非常隱蔽的行動。

It happened in like only 11 days, and it even shocked like most of the Syrian people.

這一切只發生了 11 天，甚至震驚了大多數敘利亞人。

Like they didn't even see it coming.

就好像他們根本沒料到會發生這樣的事。

They're like, okay.

他們說，好吧。

While all the Assad attacks were going on, many of the HTS rebels were forming in the city of Idlib, which geographically wasn't even too far off from the centralized government along the coastal areas.

在阿薩德發動所有攻擊的同時，許多 HTS 反叛分子正在伊德利卜市組建，從地理位置上看，伊德利卜市與沿海地區的中央政府相距並不太遠。

Who or what are these people?

這些人是誰？

What do they stand by?

他們的立場是什麼？

So this is where the story gets a little complicated.

於是，故事就變得有點複雜了。

So here's the issue.

問題就在這裡。

Jolani is a sort of, he's sort of considered like a conflicted figure amongst many people, even amongst Syrians as well.

喬拉尼在很多人中間，甚至在敘利亞人中間，都被認為是一個矛盾的人物。

Why?

為什麼？

Because although yes, he did lead the movement that eventually deposed Assad, that pretty much everybody hated, except for the Alawite community that mostly allied with him, and that's a whole other story.

因為儘管沒錯，他確實上司了最終廢黜阿薩德的運動，但幾乎所有人都憎恨阿薩德，只有阿拉維派教徒大多與他結盟，而這又是另一回事了。

Regardless, he was known for having some extremist views and ties to Al-Qaeda in the past.

無論如何，他過去因持有一些極端主義觀點和與基地組織有聯繫而聞名。

Essentially, he started off as a soldier that fought against the U.S. in Iraq.

從本質上講，他最初是一名在伊拉克與美國作戰的阿兵哥。

He was even detained in the famous Abu Ghraib prison.

他甚至被關押在著名的阿布格萊布監獄。

And later after he was released back into Syria, he, under the direction of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Al-Qaeda, was directed to create the Nusra Front.

後來，他被釋放回敘利亞後，在基地組織阿布-貝克爾-巴格達迪的訓示下，創建了努斯拉陣線。

The thing is, when he was in charge of the Nusra Front, he became very popular, and he started to realize that he really disagreed with a lot of things that al-Baghdadi was saying in Al-Qaeda.

問題是，當他負責 "努斯拉陣線 "時，他變得非常受歡迎，他開始意識到，他真的不同意巴格達迪在基地組織中所說的很多話。

And in 2016, he announced that the Nusra Front was splitting off from Al-Qaeda.

2016 年，他宣佈努斯拉陣線將從基地組織分裂出去。

He says that today, despite the connections that he had to Al-Qaeda, during his time, he was not actually personally involved in any terror activity.

他說，如今，儘管他與基地組織有聯繫，但在他任職期間，他本人實際上並未參與任何恐怖活動。

And many might say that him splitting off from Al-Qaeda and rebranding into the HTS, as well as occasionally working with other forces like the U.S. to fight against ISIS, that might be, in the very least, be considered evidence that he wasn't happy with the way how things were before when he was under his extremist views.

許多人可能會說，他從基地組織分裂出來，改名為 "半邊天 "組織，並偶爾與美國等其他勢力合作打擊 ISIS，這至少可以被認為是他不滿意之前在極端主義觀點支配下的生活方式的證據。

He has since claimed that he has denounced his extremist ways in the past, and preaches a pluralistic and tolerant motive towards the future of Syria.

此後，他聲稱自己已經摒棄了過去的極端主義做法，並對敘利亞的未來宣揚多元化和寬容的動機。

In response to a question about his political-military evolution, he is quoted for saying, I believe everyone in life goes through phases, and experiences a person in their 20s will have a different personality than someone in their 30s or 40s, and certainly someone in their 50s.

在回答關於他的政治軍事演變的問題時，他說："我相信每個人的一生都會經歷不同的階段，20 多歲的人與 30 多歲或 40 多歲的人，當然也包括 50 多歲的人，會有不同的經歷。

He's even changed his wardrobe, like back in the old days, he was like full-on Al-Qaeda style, now he's like cut his hair and has a whole new get-up, I don't know.

他甚至連衣著都變了，比如以前，他就像個基地組織成員，現在他剪了頭髮，換了一身新行頭，我也不知道。

He claims these things, but the real question is, what degree of power and influence is he, let alone the HTS, going to have in the future of Syria, let alone the international community, once they kind of figure and establish things out.

他聲稱了這些事情，但真正的問題是，一旦國際社會搞清楚並確立了一些事情，他（更不用說 HTS）在敘利亞的未來會有多大的權力和影響力，更不用說國際社會了。

The HTS officials have actually put out a statement, We welcome the international community's support, but we do not need them to manufacture a process that we are already implementing.

事實上，半邊天官員已經發表聲明：我們歡迎國際社會的支持，但我們不需要他們來製造一個我們已經在實施的進程。

We refuse to step into the traps of the past.

我們拒絕步入過去的陷阱。

So when I read the emails and messages from my Syrian subscribers, it kind of seems to me the consensus is generally that they are happy and celebrating that the Assad regime is over, however, Syrians are not stupid, they know how this game usually plays out across the world, they've seen it in the past, they know that in situations like this, there are many different avenues that can be taken in terms of leadership, and action, and policy, and they have to be very careful that they figure out the right path, and they kind of have to do it fast, because in these types of situations, if you can't figure something out in an elongated period of time, it kind of looks like you don't know how to figure out things in a long period of time.

是以，當我讀到敘利亞用戶的電子郵件和資訊時，我覺得大家的共識是，他們普遍為阿薩德政權的垮臺而感到高興和慶賀，然而，敘利亞人並不傻，他們知道這場遊戲通常是如何在全世界上演的，他們在過去見過這種情況，他們知道在這種情況下，在領導力、行動和政策方面有許多不同的途徑可以採取、在領導力、行動和政策方面，有許多不同的途徑可供選擇，他們必須非常謹慎，找出正確的道路，而且必須快速行動，因為在這種情況下，如果你不能在較長的時間內想出辦法，就會顯得你不知道如何在較長的時間內想出辦法。

So there has to be a transition, but it has to be smooth, and relatively ready to engage in the international community in a positive manner.

是以，必須有一個過渡，但必須平穩過渡，並相對做好準備，以積極的方式參與國際社會。

They kind of have to figure things out and publicly announce where they stand and what their values are.

他們必須想清楚，並公開宣佈他們的立場和價值觀。

Why?

為什麼？

Because when a new kid comes on the scene, the whole world is watching, and they want to know, what are you and who are you?

因為當一個新生力量出現時，整個世界都在關注，他們想知道，你是什麼，你是誰？

This is the complicated predicament that Syria is finding themselves in, and they don't fully know yet, they're trying to figure it out.

這就是敘利亞所處的複雜困境，他們還不完全清楚，正在努力摸索。

They have ideas, but it'll take some time.

他們有想法，但需要一些時間。

Everybody knows the situation is very fragile, and they have to take very careful steps to make sure that everything transitions smoothly.

每個人都知道局勢非常脆弱，他們必須採取非常謹慎的措施，確保一切順利過渡。

For what it's worth, they are basically going to change their flag to the three-star green tri-band.

不管怎麼說，他們基本上要把國旗換成三星綠三角旗。

It was basically the flag that they used in the first republic, and it symbolizes all of the Arab caliphates in the area.

它基本上是第一個共和國使用的旗幟，象徵著該地區所有的阿拉伯哈里發。

You know, I'm going to be a little honest, I always kind of thought their old flag was kind of stupid, because it was basically the flag that they used under that failed Arab republic with Egypt, and it fizzled out and broke apart, but they still kept the flag, even though Egypt isn't part of their country anymore.

老實說，我一直覺得他們的舊國旗有點蠢，因為那基本上是他們在與埃及合辦的那個失敗的阿拉伯共和國時期使用的國旗，雖然埃及已經不再是他們國家的一部分，但他們還是保留了這面國旗。

It's like they were just lazy, and they're like, yeah, we'll just keep it.

就好像他們只是懶惰，他們想，好吧，我們就留著它。

Since the toppling of the regime, prisoners from the notorious Sadnaya prison have been released and freed, basically political prisoners that the Assad regime put in prison for opposing him.

自阿薩德政權被推翻以來，臭名昭著的薩德納亞監獄的囚犯陸續獲釋，他們基本上都是阿薩德政權因反對他而被關進監獄的政治犯。

Many of them are being reunited with their families.

其中許多人正在與家人團聚。

There have been talks, and it's possible that we could see a potential repatriation of Syrian refugees back to the motherland to rebuild it and to reunite with their family members that were trapped in the circumstances that wouldn't allow them to leave.

我們有可能看到，敘利亞難民有可能被遣返回祖國重建家園，並與被困在無法離開的環境中的家人團聚。

It's a very sort of in limbo moment right now, but generally people are trying to be positive.

現在是一個非常迷茫的時刻，但總的來說，人們都在努力變得積極。

The ousting of the Assad regime really opens up more doors for them to figure things out and move forward in a positive manner.

推翻阿薩德政權確實為他們打開了更多的大門，讓他們能夠想出辦法，以積極的方式向前邁進。

At the same time, they are careful and cautious and keeping an eye on figures that are assuming roles of influence right now.

同時，他們也小心謹慎，關注著那些正在發揮影響力的人物。

But for what it's worth, they're trying their best.

但不管怎麼說，他們已經盡力了。

And I really hope this is going to be a positive chapter for the future of Syria.

我真心希望這將成為敘利亞未來的積極篇章。

I actually really wanted to go to Syria for the Syria episode, but obviously during that time the circumstances wouldn't allow me to.

實際上，我很想去敘利亞拍攝敘利亞那集，但顯然當時的情況不允許我這樣做。

And yeah, I really hope if things get kind of smooth and figured out, I would absolutely love to go there.

是的，我真的希望事情能順利解決，我絕對願意去那裡。

And I'd actually really like to meet you guys, the Syrian Geograpeeps, and hear your stories while in Syria, while checking out your country.

事實上，我真的很想見見你們，敘利亞的地質隊員們，聽聽你們在敘利亞的故事，同時看看你們的國家。

Let's try to make it happen.

讓我們努力實現它。

I'd love to see your country, Syria.

我很想看看你們的國家，敘利亞。

To all my Syrian subscribers out there in Syria, I really hope you're doing okay and I hope you're figuring things out.

對於所有在敘利亞的敘利亞用戶，我真的希望你們一切都好，希望你們能想出辦法。

And I really hope that you become the beacon of hope for your country.

我真心希望你能成為祖國希望的燈塔。

I know you love your country.

我知道你熱愛祖國。

And to all the Syrians abroad that are trying to also play their role in the future of Syria, I hope you guys are also a very pivotal force that makes this country move forward in a positive manner.

而對於所有在國外努力為敘利亞的未來發揮作用的敘利亞人來說，我希望你們也能成為一股非常關鍵的力量，讓這個國家以積極的方式向前邁進。

And I really hope I can be privileged enough to actually be one of those people that goes there and sees it.

我真的希望我能有幸成為其中的一員，去那裡親眼目睹。

In any case, cheers.

無論如何，乾杯。

Hope you guys are all doing good.

希望你們一切都好。

And stay cool, stay tuned.

保持冷靜，敬請期待。