MEF Dispatch: More on USAID's Perfidy, Massacres and Deal-Making in Syria, and Why Greece Should Stand Up to Turkey

More on USAID's Perfidy, Massacres and Deal-Making in Syria, and Why Greece Should Stand Up to Turkey

By Winfield Myers ● Mar 12, 2025

Smart Brevity® count: 6 mins...1595 words

We begin today with an updated overview of Gregg Roman’s Congressional testimony last month on USAID’s taxpayer support for terror-linked organizations. Next up are three articles to untangle the often-confusing situation in Syria, where there were revenge-killings along the coast and an agreement signed by the Syrian Kurds with the new regime in Damascus. We end with a plea for Greece to stiffen its resolve in the face of Turkish aggression and sabre-rattling.

ICYMI: "How USAID Helps Finance Islamist Terror" with Sam Westrop

USAID has been engaged in recent years in financing Islamic terrorist organizations. A report by the Middle East Forum documents $122 million in taxpayer funds reaching extremist groups. This report has been reviewed and heard by the House DOGE subcommittee and is now under investigation for potential criminal referrals. The findings challenge long held assumptions about oversight and accountability in U.S. foreign aid. How did this happen? Was it negligence, incompetence, or something more? As investigations unfold, serious questions remain. Who is responsible? Will there be consequences? And what does this mean for the future of American aid policy?

Sam Westrop has been the head of Islamist Watch at Middle East Forum since March 2017. Prior to this he was research director at Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT), and ran Stand for Peace, a London-based counter-extremism organization monitoring Islamist activity in the UK. His writings have appeared at National Review, National Post, and The Hill, and he has appeared on many television and radio stations, including BBC, Al Jazeera, and Newsmax.

To watch the full podcast, click here.

To read the full MEF report, click here.

MEF’s Gregg Roman: Taxpayer Funds Reached Terror-Linked Organizations

MEF's Gregg Roman delivered a scathing exposé to the House DOGE Committee in February about the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) negligence in vetting fund recipients, demonstrating a misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Why it matters: Roman's testimony reveals the systemic failures that allowed over $122 million to flow unchecked to organizations with terrorist ties.

This isn't just an oversight—it's a catastrophic breach of national security and trust.

The stakes: Roman's damning evidence could lead to criminal referrals, as the subcommittee led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) investigates this gross mismanagement.

The revelation calls for an urgent overhaul to protect American interests and prevent funds from empowering enemies.

The bottom line: Roman noted how Islamist groups had maligned MEF and other organizations, branding them as “Islamophobic” to keep people from paying attention to USAID’s misallocation of funds.

He also told lawmakers that the USAID has obstructed efforts to determine where taxpayer money is going.

"Strategic aid must not become a lifeline for those who wish us harm," Roman said in advocating rigorous oversight and transparency.

To read the full article, click here.

News: MEF Launches Red Sea Security Initiative to Counter Houthi Threats in Global Trade Routes

The Middle East Forum (MEF) launches the Red Sea Security Initiative (RSSI) to combat Houthi aggression and protect vital maritime trade. As Iran-backed Houthi forces threaten Israeli ships in the Red Sea, RSSI seeks decisive action to ensure global security.

Strategic Goals:

Advocate for U.S. maritime security funding & sanctions on Iranian facilitators.

Strengthen public-private partnerships to secure shipping routes.

Raise public awareness through media campaigns.

Led by Eric Navarro, RSSI mobilizes policymakers, industry leaders, and global stakeholders to counter threats and restore stability.

To visit the Red Sea Security Initiative website, click here.

No One Should Be Surprised About the Syrian Massacres

Shock and outrage are appropriate, but no one really has an excuse for being surprised at the dreadful scenes that have emerged from Syria’s western coastal region in recent days. Over 1,000 lives have been lost, including 750 civilians, at the hands of Sunni jihadi fighters.

Why it matters: The massacre exposes the brutal reality of Sunni jihadi warfare against non-Muslim civilians, drawing parallels to past atrocities by Islamic State against Yazidis and Israeli Jews.

Western governments' misconceptions about the Islamist rulers in Damascus have obscured the inherent brutality in their tactics.

The big picture: Hafez Assad, Bashar’s father, and his closest colleagues emerged from the Alawi sect, and as a result, Syria was dominated by a core Alawi group for the half century of the Assad’s rule.

The Alawi community, lacking defense organizations, finds itself vulnerable. Unlike other Syrian minorities, they lack Western attention and support, placing them in a precarious position.

Reality check: It is a mistake to regard Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as the undisputed, legitimate rulers of Syria. They are better seen as a dominant Sunni jihadi faction in Damascus, facing resistance from various fronts.

The practices of the ruling group and their attitudes towards non-Sunnis have not been transformed, and remain those of the Islamist and jihadi milieu from which they come.

The situation in the country has not been resolved, and further strife almost certainly lies ahead.

To read the full article, click here.

What Does the Deal Between Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and the Syrian Kurds Mean?

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria’s interim government have signed a major agreement to integrate the SDF into the Syrian Army.

Why it matters: This deal is crucial for both sides. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks legitimacy, while SDF Commander Mazlum Abdi aims to protect Kurdish regions in northeastern Syria from Turkish aggression.

Kurds now ask if this agreement benefits Syrian Kurds and fulfills their aspiration for political autonomy. The answer? It’s complicated.

The details: The agreement promises Kurdish rights but omits decentralization, a key Kurdish demand, indicating a concession to Damascus.

The SDF's integration mechanism remains vague, leaving the future structure of this U.S.-trained force uncertain.

What’s ahead: Implementation is set for end-2025, allowing time for strategic maneuvering amid volatile military and political landscapes.

While a decade of Kurdish self-rule has brought maturity and consistency to local governance in northeastern Syria, it is an open question who will rule Damascus nine months from now.

The deal is not ideal, but makes it more likely that the Kurds can survive to negotiate a new one.

To read the full article, click here.

The SDF-Syrian Agreement: Translation and Overview

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria’s new government have reached a landmark agreement amid escalating sectarian violence.

Why it matters: This agreement, mediated by Western parties, aims to integrate SDF forces into the Syrian state, a move seen as a concession by the Kurds who sought autonomy similar to Iraq Kurdistan.

The deal comes in the wake of widespread international concerns surrounding the massacres of Alawite civilians in the coastal regions by forces of the new Syrian government.

Some key terms of the agreement:

Ensuring equal representation for all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Recognizing Kurdish rights as an indigenous community within Syria.

Ceasefire across all Syrian territories.

The executive committees will work and strive to implement the agreement by the end of this year.

What’s next: The deal's implementation deadline is set for the end of 2025, providing a window to navigate ongoing challenges, including sectarian tensions and potential insurgencies—assuming the deal is maintained.

Critics worry that the deal may undermine Kurdish autonomy and the region's stability.

To read the full article, click here.

Middle East Forum 2025 Policy Conference – additional speakers announced, discounted tickets!

Join us at the Middle East Forum’s 2025 Policy Conference, taking place May 19–21 in Washington, D.C. Statecraft Reimagined will gather leading experts, diplomats, and policymakers to discuss the most urgent and complex issues shaping the future of the Middle East.

This extraordinary event is poised to be the premier Middle East policy gathering in D.C. this year, offering unparalleled insights, networking, and strategic guidance.

We are also pleased to announce that, thanks to a generous contribution from an anonymous donor, we are able to offer a select number of general admission tickets at a discounted rate of $550. These tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to get yours now.

To register, click here.

Greece Must Match Turkey’s Aggressiveness

Despite Turkey’s economic woes, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan masterfully maneuvers on the world stage, masking the country's internal weaknesses.

Why it matters: Turkey's currency has plummeted, and its economic foundation is shaky, yet Erdoğan’s assertive foreign policy masks these vulnerabilities and exerts influence beyond Turkey's actual power.

Turkey's debt-to-GDP ratio may appear strong, but Turkish statistics are often based on little other than Erdoğan’s imagination.

The big picture: Greece’s timid diplomacy risks losing ground in the Aegean, echoing Cyprus's enduring struggles.

Turkey is on the offense in the Aegean, only because Greece cedes the upper hand.

Erdoğan's ambitions to seize islands and their surrounding water in the Aegean threaten regional stability and demand a robust Greek response.

The stakes: Greece, with allies, should push for investigations into Turkey’s financial dealings and demand accountability for its religious and territorial aggressions.

As Erdoğan seeks to rewrite history and borders, Greece must pivot to a more assertive diplomatic stance to protect its interests.

To read the full article, click here.

Further Reading:

“Turkey’s Old Trick: Keeping Kurds off the New Mideast Map”
By: Loqman Radpey
Strengthening ties between the Kurds and Israel could counterbalance Turkish and Iranian ambitions and promote regional stability.

“Turkey Weighs Forcible Takeover of Russian-Built Nuclear Power Plant”
By: Abdullah Bozkurt
A Turkish cabinet minister revealed the government has contingency plans to take control of a Russian-built and operated nuclear plant in Turkey if necessary.

“The Ivy Exodus”
By: Hussein Aboubakr Mansour
Once celebrated as progressive vanguards, leftist Jewish intellectuals now find themselves cast out as heretics, exiled from the very institutions they helped shape.

Thank you for your support and for relying on the Middle East Forum to help make sense of competing and often contradictory headlines. If you enjoyed this issue of the MEF Dispatch, please forward it to a friend. We invite you to use the comments feature to let us know your thoughts on the Dispatch and the issues we cover.

Sincerely,

Winfield Myers
Managing Editor, Middle East Forum
Director, Campus Watch

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