sectarian violence
The Scandal of Syria

The Scandal of Syria

The neoconservatives and liberal interventionists were discredited long ago, but the United States still has an obligation to help solve the Syrian crisis.

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Syria: What’s Next?

Syria: What’s Next?

World BeatIt started as a peaceful revolt. It descended into a civil war that has so far claimed over 100,000 casualties and ejected nearly one-third of the population from their homes. Even worse, it has broadened into a regional conflict in which neighboring...

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In Kurdish Syria, a Different War

In Kurdish Syria, a Different War

On August 15, a car bomb ripped through a Beirut suburb, killing 21 people. The explosion was but the latest in a wave of attacks across Lebanon throughout 2012 and 2013 that were linked to events inside Syria. The ease with which violence in Iraq and Syria has...

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Making Myanmar Work

Making Myanmar Work

On May 20, 2013, former general Thein Sein became the first Burmese president to visit the White House in almost 50 years. From a pariah state noted for human rights violations under its brutal military regime, Myanmar turned a corner in 2010-2011 with the release of...

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Syria and the Monarchs: A Perfect Storm

Syria and the Monarchs: A Perfect Storm

The Obama administration’s decision to directly supply weapons to the Syrian opposition may end up torpedoing the possibility of a political settlement. It will almost certainly accelerate the chaos spreading from the almost three-year old civil war. It will also align Washington with one of the most undemocratic alliances on the planet, and one that looks increasingly unstable. In short, we are headed into a perfect political storm.

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On the Brink of Another War

On the Brink of Another War

The United States should not get involved in a civil war with unknown and dangerous ramifications for the region. It should not get involved in supporting an opposition that is ready to inflict a bloodbath on Syrian minorities, and it should not abet the rise of extremist al-Qaeda-affiliated groups. 

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