RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, February 10, 2012, The Washington Post
Daniel Byman outlines challenges for the international community in dealing with Syria. Arguing that the United States may have more at stake in Syria than other global actors, Byman outlines recommendations for U.S. policy moving forward. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, February 09, 2012, The Daily Beast
Bruce Riedel argues that should Israel conduct military strikes against Iran, it will also need to prepare for retaliation from Hezbollah in Lebanon. With the recent increases in Hezbollah’s military capacity, says Riedel, such a strike could prove very costly to Israel. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Salman Shaikh, February 08, 2012, CNN.com
Salman Shaikh outlines options for ending gridlock in the UN Security Council on Syria. Shaikh argues that the international community should hold Russia to its endorsement of the Arab League’s November initiative, call for another Security Council vote, and form a united front demanding an immediate end to the violence in Syria. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel Kaufmann, February 06, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Daniel Kaufmann examines China and Russia's veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the violence in Syria, arguing that the veto is unsurprising given the low standards of governance in all three countries. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Shadi Hamid, February 06, 2012, CNN.com
Shadi Hamid says with Russia and China vetoing the U.N. Security Council’s resolution against Syria, despite support from the Syrian population for international aid, the civil war there will only intensify. Hamid argues that the international community must plan how to best end the stalemate. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, February 02, 2012
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
While regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya eventually fell during the Arab awakening, the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has clung to power with grim resolution. The regime has slaughtered its people and ignored pressure from domestic, regional and international actors. Meanwhile, Iran has viewed the Arab Spring as a mixture of opportunity and threat, all the while resisting fierce international demands to end its nuclear enrichment program. On February 2, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion to assess the ongoing crises with Syria and Iran, the potential for escalation, and America’s role in the situation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, February 02, 2012, Foreign Policy
Without international intervention, Daniel Byman argues it is likely that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad will remain in power. Byman outlines recommendations for U.S. and allied intervention plans. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bessma Momani , January 31, 2012, Toronto Star
Bessma Momani discusses Russia and China's support for the Syrian regime, a move, she argues, that is closely related to maintaining military and economic ties with Iran and weakening the legitimacy of U.S. and European foreign policy interests. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kenneth M. Pollack, January 31, 2012, The Daily Beast
Kenneth Pollack warns that by compartmentalizing issues in the Middle East by country, we may underplay the potential for widespread problems. Pollack argues that problems in Iraq, Syria, the Gulf, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel-Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and beyond could interact to produce a whole that is worse than the sum of its parts. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Salman Shaikh, January 26, 2012, The Brookings Institution
The Arab League recently set a roadmap for a political transition in Syria that calls for Bashar al-Asad to step aside. Salman Shaikh argues that this plan, if executed with skilled diplomacy, may provide the best opportunity for a political solution that protects the freedom and rights of Syrians. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Shadi Hamid, January 26, 2012, The Atlantic
Nearly 300 days into the Syrian uprising, few analysts have called for a foreign intervention. Shadi Hamid argues that while a military intervention is still premature, the international community must begin considering a variety of options. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
John Villasenor, January 22, 2012, NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday
As technology improves and costs of digital storage become less expensive, it is easier for governments to spy on their citizens. John Villasenor examines the implications of government being able to record everything within a country's borders. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Salman Shaikh, January 16, 2012, Brookings Institution
Salman Shaikh argues that the Arab League observer team in Syria has proven to be a farce, failing in its objective to provide international scrutiny of an increasingly violent conflict. Instead of issuing vague calls to bolster the capabilities of an observer team that will only be met with hostility and intimidation by the Syrian regime, the Arab League must now recognize that it has failed and refer the case to the UN Security Council, writes Shaikh. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Salman Shaikh, December 15, 2011, Christian Science Monitor
As Syria shows increasing signs of civil war, Salman Shaikh examines the consequences of the actions of the United Nations Security Council, and argues that members apply pressure on supporters of the regime, and take steps to force the Syrian government to accept an immediate cease-fire and allow international monitoring. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Washington, DC
With the death toll in Syria now exceeding 4,000 civilians, Turkey and the Arab League recently joined the U.S. and the EU in imposing wide-ranging sanctions against Syria—a coordinated, international move considered inconceivable just six months ago. On December 13, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings and the Middle East Institute hosted a discussion to examine the impact of growing international pressure on the Assad government and analyzed the domestic and regional implications of a weakening Syrian regime and economy. Read More