How a nearly unknown businessman named Khaled al-Ahmad became Damascus’ secret liaison to the West and quietly dealt Syria’s grinding war to a close.  By Rania Khalek This is part 1 of a two-part series on the peace and reconciliation process in Syria. You can read part 2 here. BEIRUT, LEBANON – After seven years of grinding war, the Syrian government has achieved victory. According to current and former international officials and diplomats as well as UN officials, credit or … Continue reading Meet the mystery fixer who negotiated Syria out of seven years of war