The situation in Syria has been deteriorating rapidly in the past few weeks. New developments are of special concern for U.S. national security as we are getting a new view of Syria’s geopolitical reality. These developments include the rise in preeminence of al-Qaeda and its affiliates among the rebellion, concerns surrounding chemical weapons security, and [...]
Tag Archives: Syria
Developments in the Syrian Crisis: The Rise of al-Qaeda and Retreat of the Regime
Hijacking a Rebellion: New Trends in al-Qaeda Tactics
October 13, 2012
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Events in the Middle East and North Africa in recent months indicate a major shift in strategy by al-Qaeda and its affiliates. While many officials mistake this shift as a sign of al-Qaeda’s looming defeat, it actually displays a rapidly growing danger to U.S. national security. Al-Qaeda’s new ability to capitalize on instability amid preexisting [...]
Against Reductionism
March 14, 2012
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Recently there has been a deluge of calls for action to topple the Al-Assad regime in Syria in order to stop its bloody crackdown against the opposition movement. Many ideas have been thrown out into the open, the most prominent of which center around an air campaign, using a harsh set of sanctions against the [...]
The Iran-Al Qaeda Connection
February 25, 2012
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This past week has seen Al-Qaeda rise after a period of weakening and transition. After losing a number of its leadership, most notably Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki, it was thought that the organization would be further crippled until it could no longer operate effectively. However its recent actions in Iraq, Somalia, and possibly [...]
Why is Syria Different
December 8, 2011
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A political cartoon depicts President Bashir Al-Assad of Syria as the grim reaper of Syria. According to the United Nations, over 4,000 people, including over 300 children, have been killed in Syria during the Arab Spring unrest. The Arab League has repeatedly passed resolutions and sanctions on Syria. Recently [...]

December 15, 2012
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