The Latest - Arab Spring
Disappearing Red Lines
In his April 30 White House press conference, President Obama explained that there’s evidence chemical weapons have been used in Syria, but “we don’t know how they were used... more...
Experts Doubt Syria has Used Chemical Weapons
Whether Syria crossed a "red line" by using chemical weapons in its battle against a rebellion appeared murky Wednesday and both sides in the war blamed the other for an attack that Western nations are unsure even happened. more...
The Next Arab Challenge
Ibrahim el-Houdaiby is exactly the sort of man the United States needs on its side these days. A 29-year-old graduate of the American University in Cairo, he is one of the firebrands who decamped to Tahrir Square... more...
Little Princes Survive the Arab Spring
The so-called Arab Spring began more than two years ago when a Tunisian fruit vendor, upset by the Tunisian regime’s corruption and lack of accountability, set himself on fire. It soon became apparent... more...
Syria’s Civil War Could Drag On Much Longer
For more than a year, Syria experts have been predicting the imminent fall of the 42-year-old Assad regime, but President Bashar al-Assad continues to hold power and shows no sign of giving it up. more...
Assessing Israel’s Strike on Syria
Last week saw what might have been the first incursion by Israeli warplanes into Syria airspace in six years. The strike took place on Wednesday (January 30th), and by week’s end, unnamed US and Israeli... more...
Syria Conflict: Opposition Suggests Talks with Vice President
Khatib's call for conditional dialogue with the Syrian government has been backed by unlikely the source - Ammar Abdulhamid a usually hawkish Syrian dissident and blogger. Abdulahamid, fellow at the Foundation... more...
Analysis: Al-Qaida’s Increasing Presence in Lebanon
Al-Qaida’s presence in Lebanon is growing, partly because of the spillover from the civil war next door in Syria. There are reports that Jabhat al-Nusra, a.k.a. the al-Nusra Front, which the US last month... more...
Damascus Rebels Stuck in Stalemate
The deadly shelling of one of Syria’s largest universities in Aleppo on Tuesday came as the rebel campaign there approached the six-month mark, offering a stark reminder of the entrenched nature of the... more...
Obama Administration’s ‘Failings’ on Syria
It is hard to dispute claims that Syria will be seen as one of the biggest foreign policy failures of the Obama administration, according to analyst Tony Badran. Speaking to the Guardian, Badran... more...
Laying Groundwork for Life After Syria’s Assad
As the days of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad increasingly look numbered, Jewish and pro-Israel activists are starting to grapple with the question of who will be in power after he’s gone — and whether... more...
John Kerry’s Challenges Ahead
“Kerry’s not going to surprise Obama the way Madeleine Albright surprised Bill Clinton over Kosovo,” said Kori Schake, a Hoover Institution fellow who served as foreign policy adviser to Sen. John McCain’s... more...
Syrian VP’s Remarks Suggest Regime in Dire Straits
Syria's Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa is drawing attention for becoming the first senior Syrian official to publicly acknowledge that his government cannot win its battle against a 21-month rebellion. more...
Has the Arab Spring Lived Up to Expectations?
For those who expected a fast and smooth transition to liberal democratic norms, the Arab Spring has certainly failed to deliver. But for those who simply wanted to push their countries into taking one... more...
‘Generous’: Remember John Kerry’s Praise of Syrian Dictator Assad?
With multiple reports circulating that President Barack Obama will nominate Sen. John Kerry to be his next secretary of state, it’s worth remembering the praise the Democratic senator has in the past... more...
Damascus Under Siege
Six months after being driven out of central Damascus, rebel fighters are battling to gain control of it. They have launched a concerted campaign against military bases and the international airport... more...
Obama Gives Syrian Rebels Recognition
President Obama said on Tuesday that the United States will formally recognize a coalition of Syrian opposition groups as that country’s legitimate representative, intensifying pressure on President Bashar... more...
Morsi Retreats, a Little
The Post reports that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s repeal of part of his controversial decree has not quelled protests. “Opposition leaders called for more protests after Morsi refused to cancel a... more...
Islamists are Worse Than Dictators
Who is worse, President Mohammed Morsi, the elected Islamist seeking to apply Islamic law in Egypt, or former President Hosni Mubarak, the dictator ousted for trying to start a dynasty? More broadly... more...
Ambassador Ford: Hey, Syria’s a Mess
Ambassador Robert Ford, who has served in Syria bravely in the face of physical danger, spoke in Washington, D.C., at a conference held by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. more...
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