Democracy and peace are not guaranteed when a dictator falls — sometimes, a country’s fate turns uglier and messier.

Look no further than Iraq. The aftermath of Saddam’s fall demonstrates that even most well-intentioned policies under the guise of a “new democracy” can backfire abysmally. Today, Iraq still reels from the consequences of de-Baathification, transitional justice failures and a vague constitution that have contributed to decades of needless sectarian violence and terror.

This does not have to be true of Syria.

In a recent address to the nation, Syria’s new self-appointed president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged a reformed government that protects the rights of all minorities and expressed aspirations of a modern Syria, comparable to Saudi Arabia and its latest reforms.

The outlook is far from promising. Recent reports of intense clashes, allegedly between al-Sharaa’s security forces and members of the Alawite religious minority, have resulted in more than 1,000 deaths just two days, casting serious doubt on the country's stability.

Yes, Syria faces its own distinct set of challenges. But at a minimum, it must move quickly avoid the sectarian fractures that devastated post-Saddam Iraq.

Iraq’s policy of de-Baathification stands as one of its most disastrous decisions. The government dismissed approximately 100,000 Baathist professionals — party members under Saddam’s regime — from their jobs, disbanded the military, and restructured the government under predominantly Shia leadership, disproportionately affecting Sunnis.

To make matters worse, despite ambitious plans to address Saddam’s legacy of human rights abuses, transitional justice measures focused on purging and persecuting former Baathists. Plans for truth........

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