Syria Mystery: Journalist Vanishes, Investigation Uncovers Spy Thriller

In 2012, US marine turned freelance correspondent Austin Tice disappeared in Syria. If still alive, he is now the second-longest detained journalist globally. Josh Baker's investigation into his vanishing, the subject of the BBC podcast "I'm Not a Monster," transformed into an extraordinary exploration of espionage and dictatorship.

The investigation reveals details about American exceptionalism and the Syrian civil war's last 14 years, entering facilities used for disappearance and torture by the Assad regime. Baker notes receiving an unprecedented number of leaks from various intelligence agencies regarding Tice's case.

This is Baker's third "I'm Not a Monster" series, following investigations into an American woman joining the Islamic State and Shamima Begum. His past reporting includes embedded work with Iraqi special forces during the Battle for Iraq, where he survived a car bomb in Mosul that broke his back.

Baker's prior work also uncovered the fate of an American boy, Matthew, forced to assemble a bomb in Raqqa by ISIS, and shed light on the experiences of Western women who joined the extremist group. He detailed the role of Canadian intelligence in helping Begum cross borders.

Baker believes the current strategy of stripping individuals like Begum of statehood does not enhance safety, despite the tens of thousands convinced to join ISIS. His documentaries have drawn death threats and sparked discussions on terrorism, foreign policy, and conditional citizenship.

Baker highlights the accessibility of intelligence sources in Washington compared to Britain, noting a decrease in cooperation under the Trump administration. He emphasizes the urgency of the Austin Tice case, aiming to provide answers to his mother and raise awareness about the ongoing atrocities in Syria, where an estimated 100,000 people have disappeared.