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Syria Project

Our work on Syria sheds light on the ongoing struggle of Syrians to fulfill their desire for democratic self-governance as the United States and the international community grapple with the aftermath of a devastating civil war, millions of refugees across the Middle East and Europe, and ongoing security and political challenges spilling over Syria’s borders.


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Syria Strategy Project

The Atlantic Council, Middle East Institute, and European Institute of Peace collaborate with subject matter experts and policymakers in the US, Europe, and the Middle East to develop a holistic strategy to sustainably forge a pathway to resolving Syria’s crisis.

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Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2013

President Obama to Address the Nation in Prime Time

JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV

Syria
Ed Miliband at Labour Party conference, September 2010

NATOSource

Sep 10, 2013

A Much Less Special Relationship

By Roger Cohen, New York Times

Britain’s decision not to stand with the United States, its closest ally, in possible military action to punish the Syrian regime for a deadly chemical weapons attack marks a watershed moment

European Union International Organizations
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, December 5, 2012

NATOSource

Sep 10, 2013

NATO Secretary General: ‘We Need a Firm International Response to the Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria’

By BNS

European countries should invest more in their defence capacities to be able to defend principles of democracy around the globe, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Vilnius.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2013

Europe, Syria, and the Crisis of Global Governance

By Julian Lindley-French

The Riga Conference is a highlight in my annual calendar and an antidote to the eternal self-obsessed ‘westerneuropeanitis’ which passes for strategy in Europe these days.  Sharing a platform with the Belgian, British and Latvian defense ministers I fulfilled my now traditional role as Europe’s strategic hooligan.  Dangerously I also sent my first tweet – […]

Europe & Eurasia Syria

MENASource

Sep 10, 2013

Syria: Russia’s Eleventh Hour Chemical Proposal

By Fred Hof

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, either seizing on an off-handed comment by his US counterpart at a press conference in London, or thinking creatively on his own, has proposed that Syria’s chemical stockpile be placed under international supervision and ultimately destroyed.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2013

Smart Wars Don’t Need Selling

By James Joyner

President Obama is pulling out all stops in a thus-far failing bid to convince the American people and their representatives in Congress to back military action in Syria.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2013

Eye on Syria: Syria Accepts Russian Plan

News Obama Interviews on Syria: Three-Minute Summary, Washington Post ABC CBS Evening News CNN Fox News NBC Nightly News PBS Newshour Charlie Rose Interview with Bashar al-Assad, PBS Syria Accepts Russian Proposal on Weapons; France to Bring Resolution to Security Council, Washington PostAn unexpected Russian proposal for Syria to avert a US military strike by […]

Syria

Article

Sep 9, 2013

Obama’s Weak Syria Case

By Rajan Menon

President Obama’s case for striking Syria is perplexing and misguided. Here’s hoping that these attributes will become clear during the debate that will occur now that he has delayed acting and sought Congressional consent. Despite the massive death toll in Syria, which now exceeds one hundred thousand, Obama has been chary (wisely, in my view) […]

Syria
NATO Summit in Chicago

NATOSource

Sep 9, 2013

The West is Accelerating its Strategic Decline

By François Heisbourg, Financial Times

[T]he west was inevitably going to lose some of its ability to set the global agenda and to conduct foreign military operations. This process has been accelerated by the west’s economic slowdown since 2007.

International Organizations Libya

MENASource

Sep 9, 2013

Kerry’s “Hypothetical” in Syria: Checking Congress?

By Anthony Elghossain

Congress needs to check itself. As it considers the use of force in Syria, Congress will enjoy considerable control over the authorizing resolution’s language. To begin with, under the US Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war, to raise and maintain armed forces, to control the purse.

Syria

Experts