starting with mohammed ghanem, the news that we are receiving in the united states is very much focused on the issue of chemical weapons and the emergence of islamic forces and the question of whether or not damascus is about to turn. i want to ask you, given your experience and what you have witnessed in northern syria, what is it that we are missing from this area? >> this is a narrative about citizens of syria and how they are coming together, trying to take a step towards governing themselves. this narrative of this emergence of a society -- that is missing. it would be helpful to remind our friends in the audience what we are talking about today is a country that was experiencing a crisis of huge proportions. according to the u.n., many destroyed in syria. many homes in syria are just gone. there are activists that i work with the talk about these elements in northern syria. [inaudible] throughout the country, gives us the access to compromise. syrians are coming together, trying to fill the vacuum or gap rather than being created by a contracting element. i thought that was very i

to my far right is mohammed ghanem.he received his bachelor's degree in english literature as well as his graduate degree in translation from damascus university. he went on to aaron a master's degree in peace building in conflict transformation from the center of justice and peace building at the eastern university and harrisonburg virginia and has taught as an assistant professor at the university of damascus on the syrian virtual university. he is a long time syrian activist. he was active in the early days of the revolution as a strategist for nonviolent cut democracy campaign. he has continued his activism here in d.c. through this year in american council. he is currently taking on roles of advising civilian administrations which are emerging in syrian cities and which we intend to focus on today. he just returned from northern syria three weeks ago. to my immediate right is ilhan tanir, washington d.c. correspondent for a nation might turkish is favre. he is also a non resident fellow at the british and rejection