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The Syrian Quagmire

10 commentaries

The world’s attention is drawn to Syria seemingly only when Syrian troops drive rebel forces from another town or city, or attack civilians using chemical weapons. But with the help of Russia and Iran, President Bashar al-Assad has consolidated his position, and the threat of a regional war looms.

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  1. The US Needs a Syria Strategy
    A convoy of US forces armoured vehicles drives near the village of Yalanli DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images

    The US Needs a Syria Strategy

    Apr 23, 2018 Shlomo Ben-Ami worries that the Trump administration's recent missile strikes will make a bad situation worse.

  2. Missile Strikes Are Not a Syria Strategy
    The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk land attack missile at Syria Matthew Daniels/U.S. Navy via Getty Images

    Missile Strikes Are Not a Syria Strategy

    Apr 19, 2018 Richard Haass thinks the latest US, British, and French attack failed to achieve even the tactical goal of deterrence.

  3. Trump, Syria, and the Threat of Region-Wide War
    Getty Images Halil el-Abdullah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

    Trump, Syria, and the Threat of Region-Wide War

    Apr 11, 2018 Fawaz A. Gerges warns that a US withdrawal could set the stage for an even more devastating conflict.

  4. The UN’s Crimes of Omission
    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the assembly during a UN Security Council meeting Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    The UN’s Crimes of Omission

    Mar 14, 2018 Nabil Fahmy upbraids the body and its most powerful members for shirking their peacekeeping responsibilities.

  5. What Putin Wants in Syria
    Children gather next to members of the Russian military police in Syria GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP/Getty Images

    What Putin Wants in Syria

    Feb 28, 2018 Nina L. Khrushcheva argues that Russia's goal is to send a message that popular revolts against its allies will not succeed.

  6. The Syrian Time Bomb
    Getty Images JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images

    The Syrian Time Bomb

    Feb 22, 2018 Joschka Fischer warns that recent escalation of the conflict could lead to another great-power conflict in the Middle East.

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