The Takeaway devoted a full hour this morning to the ongoing situation in Syria. With reports from the ground, a history of the country from David Sanger, Russia's influence in the region, a take from the pro-democracy movement in the U.S., and even the pro-Assad outlook on conflict. The following is our full first hour of coverage in its entirety.

David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times and contributor to WQXR's The Washington Report, explores the history of Syria from the Ottoman Empire to the present day dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. At a time where civilians are under attack by Assad's oppressive regime, Sanger explains the president's rise to power and his family's 40-year reign. He goes in-depth about the complicated relationship with Israel and Syria's ties to Hezbollah.

David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times and a contributor to WNYC, talks about the situation in Syria.  

Over the weekend, China and Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would've allowed action to be taken against Bashar al-Assad's regime. The U.S. has closed their embassy in Syria, and has begun discussing imposing sanctions. But more pressingly, unlike the intervention in Libya, there seems to be little that the international community can do to protect civilians.

A number of political analysts have noted that President Obama has been far more successful in the foreign policy arena than domestically. But the President who managed to find Osama Bin Laden still faces a tough re-election battle this year. David Sanger, Chief Washington correspondent for our partner The New York Times, and contributor to WQXR's The Washington Report gives his thoughts on the foreign policy points made during last night's state of the union address.

Chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times and WNYC contributor David Sanger joins from Cairo to discuss the latest in U.S.-Egypt relations, as well as developments between Iran and the U.S. Plus what the resignation of Bill Daley means to the Obama administration.

David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times and a contributor to WNYC, and Washington Post political writer, Melinda Henneberger,  reflect on the top national and international stories of the year. 

David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times and a contributor to WNYC, discusses the latest in US nuclear diplomacy, from Iran to North Korea.

Kim Jong-il, the North Korean dictator who made his isolated country a nuclear power, died on Saturday of a heart attack at age 69. State media kept the death a secret for nearly two days, suggesting a possible leadership vacuum. North Korea's ruling Workers' Party released a statement suggesting that Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong-un, had succeeded his father. North Korea conducted a short-range missile test on Monday, according to unconfirmed reports from South Korea.