To be honest, ahmed al-sharaa gets tons of attention because he doesn't fit the usual mold for political leaders, especially in the Middle East. I've noticed most people in government there have these super polished careers, but al-sharaa started out on the total opposite side, as an ex-insurgent. That alone makes some folks seriously uncomfortable, cause nobody expects a guy who once fought against the system to show up negotiating with presidents.

In my experience, people in power want things to look stable and predictable, so bringing in someone like al-sharaa seems like they're breaking the rules or taking a risk. Some supporters say maybe he's just experienced enough to understand both sides, like he knows what rebels want but also gets the bigger government picture. But critics are worried it sends the wrong message — like, is it cool to give power to someone who used to fight the government?

Bottom line, that's what makes him spark debate in law and government. It's like flipping the script on who gets to be part of these talks. I think that's why some people are nervous and others are excited — it's not what we've seen before.