Syria

NATO Must Help Obama on Syria

By James G. Stavridis, New York Times

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization must be part of an international effort to respond to the crisis in Syria, beginning immediately with punitive strikes

The Legal Case against Using Force in Syria: A Reply to Ulbrick, Williams, and Worboys

By Hyder Syed

On August 31, 2013, MENASource published an article by J. Trevor Ulbrick, Paul R. Williams, and Jonathan P. Worboys setting out a legal case for military intervention in Syria. The authors, all respected commentators on public international law, argue that the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) doctrine would legally sanction the limited use of force against […]

Secretary General: NATO Will Not Take Part In Syria Strike

By Jan M. Olsen, AP

NATO’s chief said for the first time Friday that the alliance has no plans for military action in Syria

Obama’s Hamlet Act

By James Joyner

As recently as two days ago, it looked as if strikes would commence this weekend. Yesterday, though, the president announced that he would seek permission from Congress, which won’t be back in town for more than a week. This Hamlet act is drawing jeers from friend and foe alike.

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