Syria

Syria: A Mystifying Lack of US Preparedness

By Fred Hof

The decision of President Barack Obama to seek congressional approval for US military strikes in Syria is constitutionally sound, but strategically appalling. By not making it clear from the outset of the crisis that he would seek the approval of the Senate and House for a military response to the Assad regime’s chemical atrocity, the […]

Obama’s Syria Decision and US Global Credibility

By Barry Pavel and Alex Ward

After a week of signaling that a US-led attack on Syria was imminent to punish the Assad regime for the inhumane and internationally condemned use of chemical weapons against his own people, US President Barack Obama announced two decisions Saturday: first, that he had decided to take military action against Syrian regime targets; but second, […]

Obama Will Seek Congressional Authorization on Syria

In an announcement from the Rose Garden at the White House, President Obama announced two decisions on Syria. He said in his statement that he has decided the United States should take military action against the regime in Syria for their use of chemical weapons.

Turkey: Planned US Missile Strikes on Syria Not Good Enough

By Hurriyet Daily News, Reuters, TIME

From Hurriyet Daily News:  Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said the U.S. statement on a “limited” military action against Syria will not be enough to satisfy Ankara

Why Obama’s Plan to Strike Syria Makes No Strategic Sense

By James Joyner

Having backed himself into a corner by declaring a “red line” that has now been crossed, President Obama is by all appearances ramping up for military action in Syria. As best we can tell from the not inconsiderable leaks coming from Washington and elsewhere, the planned strikes would use aerial assets, last only a short period, and […]

Britain Drifts Towards Isolation

By Richard Haass, Financial Times

The British Parliament’s rejection of a motion endorsing UK participation in expected military action against Syria is nothing less than stunning – an event with a political significance that transcends the immediate debate

US Seeks Allies as UK Shuns Syria Action in Shock Vote

By Lorna Shaddick, FRANCE 24

The United States is still seeking an “international coalition” in response to Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons, despite a vote against military action by British MPs, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Friday.

Germany: No Plans to Join Syria Military Action

By AP and Charles Hawley, Spiegel

From AP:  The German government said Friday that it isn’t considering joining military action against Syria and hasn’t been asked by others to do so.

Despite UK Vote, France Backs Action in Syria

By David Gauthier-Villars, Wall Street Journal

France sent a clear signal on Friday that it was preparing strikes against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, with President François Hollande saying the Syrian government’s alleged use of chemical weapons against its own people cannot go unpunished.

Syrian Refugees are Unwanted Guests in Lebanon

By Rachel Webb

In the latest, horrifying turn of events in Syria’s protracted civil war, videos surfaced showing the aftermath of an alleged chemical attack in Damascus. With a US military strike on Syria seemingly imminent, all eyes are on the escalation of tensions between Western and regional powers. Yet the result of such violence is playing out […]