The Washington, D.C., office of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) sits discreetly on Pennsylvania Avenue. Across the street from the hub of government buildings in the Federal Triangle and a few blocks from the White House, the location speaks to just how closely the coalition would like the United States to align itself with the forces seeking to overthrow Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
The modest digs are home to a small band of SOC officials who act as a liaison to the U.S. government to help the anti-Assad forces circumvent sanctions against Syria, lobby for aid, and strategize over their next steps on Capitol Hill and at the United Nations. Among them is Bassel Korkor, who has served as the SOC's U.S. legal adviser since it was formally established in November 2012.
