Syria

Syria 2013: Will The Poison Pill of Sectarianism Work?

By Frederic C. Hof

At the dawn of the New Year President Bashar al-Assad and his regime remain committed to pursuing a corrosively destructive sectarian survival strategy, one enjoying a critical assist from an increasingly radicalized and politically directionless armed opposition.  Left to their own devices—as both the West and Russia seemed inclined to leave them—the regime and its armed […]

Syria: Seven Key Points

By Frederic C. Hof

The situation in Syria has reached a critical stage. While a diplomatic, managed transition from the Assad regime to an opposition-led consensus national unity government would be ideal, the likelihood of it happening is very low. The situation is enormously complicated and fraught with peril. But seven points must be kept in mind.

Discussion on Syria’s Transition with Frederic Hof

By Jason Harmala

Noting the addition of the Hariri Center’s newest senior fellow, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East convened a public event on December 13 with Ambassador Frederic Hof, former US Department of State special advisor for transition in Syria, to address the ongoing crisis in Syria and the international community’s role. Amb. Hof presented […]

The Dublin Meeting and its Meaning for Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Apparently sensing that the end game may be approaching in Syria, UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi went to Dublin to host a hastily arranged meeting between US Secretary of State Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. 

Syria: Has the Bubble Burst?

By Frederic C. Hof

Reports that the Syrian regime is moving chemical weapons components for possible use against rebels, or pro-rebel populated areas, have provoked stern warnings from President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.  For an administration that has consistently steered clear of military involvement in Syria’s civil war, the use of dirty weapons by the Assad regime […]

Problems With Neighbors: Turkey, Iraq, and the Syrian Kurds

With reports of clashes between Kurdish militias and jihadist elements of the Syrian opposition in the ethnically mixed town of Ras al-Ain on the Syrian-Turkish border, the question of how Syria’s Kurdish population will fit into a post-Assad state has been forced to the front. For the past twenty months Syrian opposition forces have challenged […]

Arming Syria’s Rebels: The Strategic and Humanitarian Imperative

By Alex Simon

As President Obama prepares to embark on his second term, Syria’s civil war looms as perhaps his most urgent foreign policy challenge. With the death toll climbing upwards of 35,000 and the number of refugees approaching 400,000, the Obama Administration has thrown its weight behind the “Seif Plan,” a political initiative taking place this week […]