Syria

Syria in The State Of The Union Address

By Frederic C. Hof

In Syria, we’ll support the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks… American diplomacy, backed by the threat of force, is why Syria’s chemical weapons are being eliminated, and we will continue to work with the international community to usher in the future the Syrian people deserve—a future free of dictatorship, terror and fear.

Making Sense of the Geneva II Syria Peace Talks

Following the rancorous opening of the Geneva II peace talks, and amid competing proposals and counter-proposals by the delegations of the Syrian government and the opposition, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East convened a panel of experts on January 28, 2014 to parse the talks to date and to forecast possible outcomes. Ambassador […]

Syria: The Shadow of Iraq

By Frederic C. Hof

It is very difficult to imagine a scenario in which our involvement in Syria would have led to a better outcome, short of us being willing to undertake an effort in size and scope similar to what we did in Iraq. –President Barack Obama as quoted by David Remnick in “Going the Distance: On and […]

Finnish Defense Minister: EU will Never Become Europe’s Primary Defense Forum

By Jorge Benitez, Atlantic Council

During his trip to Washington to meet with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Finnish Defense Minister Carl Haglund sat down for an exclusive interview with Director of NATOSource Jorge Benitez.

Syria: In Geneva, Political Settlement is Only Half the Battle

By Alex Simon

The prevailing attitude toward Geneva inside Syria underscores a central reality of the conference and one that could be easily overshadowed by the frantic diplomacy of recent weeks: even if the talks could miraculously produce their goal of forming transitional government, another miracle altogether would be required in order to implement any settlement on the […]

Get Ready, the Indispensable Americans are Pulling Back

By Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

[T]he most important emerging theme in world politics is America’s slow retreat from its role as global policeman.

Some Good News from the Syria Talks

By New Atlanticist

Syria’s opposition movement made a credible start toward establishing itself as a serious interlocutor, one of two positive developments from the opening of UN-sponsored peace talks on the Syrian civil war that are noted by Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof. The other good news, writes Hof, is that Secretary of State John Kerry made clear […]

Syria: Geneva II, Day One

By Frederic C. Hof

Thanks in part to a long, repetitive, rambling, and vitriolic statement by the representative of the Syrian government at the opening of the Geneva II peace conference in Montreux, Syria’s opposition made a good start toward achieving one of its goals: to be regarded by the international community as a serious, worthy, and relevant interlocutor.