Syria | AEIdeas

Sunday, May 26, 2013

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Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Is arming the Syrian opposition a good idea?

Michael Rubin | May 22, 2013, 2:16 pm

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday approved legislation to have the United States provide small arms and ammunition to the Syrian opposition. While it’s good news that a bipartisan array of senators recognizes the high costs of American passivity, I’m … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

A pivotal fight in Syria. US AWOL per usual

Danielle Pletka | May 20, 2013, 11:09 am

The fight now going on in the strategic city of Qusayr has already spilled over into neighboring Lebanon, where fighting between Alawites sympathetic to Bashar al Assad (himself an Alawite) are battling Sunnis who support the rebels in Syria. Three … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Of course the Iranian elections matter. But how?

Will Fulton | May 17, 2013, 12:09 pm

One of the dominant memes surrounding the upcoming Iranian presidential elections is: “Do they matter?” In short, yes. Of course they do. For those who study Iran, the presidential elections are a rare opportunity to gain insight into an otherwise … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Eastern Mediterranean: New Cold War front?

Niklas Anzinger | May 17, 2013, 11:14 am

On May 16, Russian Pacific fleet warships including a destroyer and two amphibious warfare ships entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal to reinforce Russia’s new “Mediterranean taskforce.” The taskforce already consists of vessels from Northern, Baltic, and the Black … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Obama’s Syria fantasy

Paul Wolfowitz | May 16, 2013, 2:10 pm

If pigs had wings, perhaps they could fly. And if the US had some leverage, perhaps all the talk about a negotiated end to the Syrian crisis might amount to something. But even if the US could develop some negotiating … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Israeli airstrikes prove stopping Assad is a matter of will, not ability

Danielle Pletka | May 6, 2013, 10:23 am

It’s been said already and will be said again, but Israel’s two weekend attacks on Hezbollah targets in Syria make clear that Bashar al Assad’s much-vaunted air force is not as much-vaunted as many would have it. Does that mean … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

George Will, Syria, and the dead columnists society

Gary Schmitt | May 2, 2013, 10:35 am

In George Will’s column today in the Washington Post (“Obama is Right on Syria”), Will references an essay in the most recent issue of the American Interest by Owen Harries and Tom Switzer (“Leading from Behind: Third Time a Charm?”) … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Iranian strategy in Syria

Will Fulton, Joseph Holliday and Sam Wyer | May 2, 2013, 10:19 am

The Islamic Republic of Iran has conducted an extensive, expensive, and integrated effort to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power as long as possible while setting conditions to retain its ability to use Syrian territory and assets to pursue its … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Obama on Syria: Something, something, chain of custody, nothing

Danielle Pletka | April 30, 2013, 12:16 pm

Barack Obama gave a quickie presser this morning that covered a wide range of issues including Syria, GTMO, Benghazi, and gun control. But the Syria story led the questioning, and the president did little to erase perceptions that he has … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Slam dunks, Syria, and the lessons of Iraq

Gary Schmitt | April 30, 2013, 8:57 am

When President Obama first drew the “red line” last summer on Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s possible use of chemical weapons and then again last December, he almost certainly believed that this was a line Assad would not cross. To do so … read more >