In the interest of time and because we are on air at cspan, we should get moving. Ill be giving opening remarks. Well get started on some of our opening remarks, and then swiftly alex will be here and well start the moderator discussion. First of all, as i say, welcome to the middle east institute. Thank you ever so much for joining us for this extremely important event. As someone whos work on syria and particularly on idlib nan stop for the last nine years, i can safely say that events like this kopt come as a more important time. Im also not aware of any other events like this one happening in washington these days. So im extremely glad its taking place. The humanitarian crisis thats developed in northwestern syria in recent months is entirely unprecedented. Not just after nine years of war in syria, but in this whole worlds modern history. And yet despite the sheer enormity of the crisis, the world has yet to do much more than issue public statements of concern. Im going to keep my