The Latest - Sudan
Real American Pressure’ Still Needed on Damascus
Under mounting international pressure, Syria announced on Thursday that it will move its troops in Lebanon closer to the Syrian border, but some Syria-watchers see the move as nothing more than an attempt at appeasement.
Phares to BBC: Syrian “Redeployment” Shoud be Based on 1559 Alone
In an interview with the BBC “World Today”, Mideast expert Dr. Walid Phares said the “declaration by the Syrian Government that it would start redeploying from Lebanon shortly is an attempt to dodge the international community’s decision to evacuate the occupying forces back to Syria.”
Bush Pitches Democracy but Putin Stands by his Methods
US President George W. Bush has made Russia the focus of his campaign for global democracy because it is bucking perceived international trends, analysts argued yesterday.
Expert: U.S. Actions Keep Iran in Check
A British expert on Iran says America’s resolve to fight terrorism even at the cost of American lives is keeping Iran from acting out its deep hostility toward the United States.
The Press Botches Basra
LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER Iraqi security forces began their campaign against militant Shia factions in Basra, the media had already declared the operations a failure. The operations, which were initiated on March 25, were designed to quell rogue factions of Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army. In covering the fighting, the press displayed its previously seen penchant for quickly throwing in the towel when a military operation does not instantaneously meet its goals.
more...
Lebanese Government Falls Amid Mass Protest
Breaking 29 years of Syrian domination, Lebanon’s pro-Damascus government fell today after two weeks of protests and political maneuvers in the wake of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
Setbacks in Lebanon
Syrian President Bashar Assad, under mounting pressure from a string of political setbacks over Lebanon and Iraq, is facing tough choices that leave him vulnerable to internal challenges.
Imprisoned Terrorists Still Advocating Terror
It was 12:18 p.m. on Feb. 26, 1993, lunchtime, when the van exploded. The massive bomb rattled the World Trade Center, leaving a giant crater in the underground garage. Six people were killed, and more than 1,000 were wounded.
Ten Questions with Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin is best known for his daring “Mars Direct” plan, but his most recent book, Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil is set a lot closer to home. His proposal on solving America’s oil addition is simple—some critics would say too simple. Here’s what Dr. Zubrin has to say. more...
Chirac debería reconocer que los israelíes no mataron a Mohammed al-Durra
La imagen es tan inquietante como icónica de las muchas que se han visto durante décadas del conflicto árabe-israeli: Mohammed al-Durra, de sólo 12 años, se encontró en un fuego cruzado en Gaza, temblando contra una pared, su padre deseperado tratando de cubrirlo. Y después, desgarradoramente tiroteado y muerto por fuego israelí.
Iraq Effort Faces Fresh Hill Scrutiny
U.S. military officials and proponents of the surge have launched a spirited defense of the troop buildup, dismissing talk that events in Basra were a setback. Walid Phares, a senior fellow at the conservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that with the assault on Basra the al-Maliki government put Sadr and his followers on notice that militia control of Basra won’t be tolerated.
“We have to wait and see what happens next,” said Phares, who directs the foundation’s Future Terrorism Project. “This could be the Maliki government sending the message that what we did in Baghdad and the Sunni triangle against Al Qaeda [in Iraq] is what we we’re preparing to do next in the south.”
Read the article here.
more...
The Syrian Iranian Axis, a Declaration of War Against Democracy
In a recent article published in al Watan al Arabi, FDD Senior Fellow Walid Phares said: “the Syrian-Iranian axis and their ally in Lebanon, Hizbollah is a declaration of war against Mideast Democracy.” Phares’ 4 pages interview in Arabic covered a number of sensitive subjects including: The assassination of Former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, the new Lebanese multiethnic and multireligious opposition, the role of the Lebanese Diaspora, and the fate of the Syrian regime after the pull out from Lebanon.
Experts
Vice President for Research
Senior Fellow and Editor of The Long War Journal
Senior Fellow
Visiting Fellow
Senior Research Analyst, Program Manager, Special Research Projects