Overnight, Syrian analyst Elizabeth O’Bagy became a prominent figure in the Syrian debate. She was fired Wednesday for falsely claiming to have a Ph.D.

In an Aug. 30 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, O’Bagy challenged the conventional wisdom that the rebel forces are increasingly dominated by Islamic extremists.

“Moderate opposition forces — a collection of groups known as the Free Syrian Army — continue to lead the fight against the Syrian regime,” she wrote.

Overnight, O’Bagy was a fixture on news programs, offering her take on the Syrian war, which included a Sept. 6 interview on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Her comments often sparked a strong response, pro and con. Secretary of State John Kerry and Sen. John McCain both favorably cited her work during congressional hearings. Critics claimed she was helping push the U.S. into a Middle East quagmire