Category Archives: Syria

Why sanctions against Syria were renewed

Why did the Obama administration renew sanctions against Syria? According to the Washington Post: The revival of a transit route that officials had declared all but closed comes as the Obama administration is exploring a new diplomatic dialogue with Syria. … Continue reading

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What to look for

Like I did the other day, Jennifer Rubin wonders about the administration’s welcome realism about Syria contrasted with its apparent disregard for Israel. Regarding Israel she writes: There are, it seems, two possible ways to read this. The first is … Continue reading

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Serious about Syria?

While there is clearly reason to be concerned about the Obama administration’s approach to the Middle East, there is at least one bright spot. (via memeorandum) According to Barry Rubin the administration has been responding appropriately to Syria. The basis … Continue reading

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Hariri suspects freed

The BBC reported yeterday that the UN’s special tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafiq Hariri has released four Lebanese generals it had been holding as suspects in the assassination. The UN court was set up to investigate the bomb attack … Continue reading

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Lieberman’s call for two-state solution ignored by MSM

The media have portrayed Avigdor Lieberman as a rabid anti-Arab bigot who refuses to adhere to the Two-state Solution School of Middle East Politics. So I read with interest this article in Ynet the other day, and waited for the … Continue reading

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Engaging Syria

David Schenker lays out the possibilities of American-Syrian rapprochement # U.S. diplomatic engagement with Syria comes at a particularly sensitive time, just a few months before the Lebanese elections, where the “March 14” ruling coalition faces a stiff challenge from … Continue reading

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Why be serious about Syria?

With the administration and its fawning media in a tizzy about the warming of relations between the United States and Syria, Bret Stephens warns that Syria really offers nothing to the United States, and that the U.S. engages Bashar Assad … Continue reading

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Why Syria? Why now?

The United States is preparing to engage Syria. According to the NY Times: Middle East experts say they believe that conditions for an opening to Syria are ripe on both sides. “We’ve got a Syrian government that wants to engage,” … Continue reading

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Senators in Syria

In addition to Senator Kerry, another group of senators has gone to Syria. Senator Ben Cardin, my Senator is one of them. MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL: As Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), I … Continue reading

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“Alleged”

I’ve already complained about David Ignatius’s glowing puff piece about the chinless ophthalmologist of Damascus, but there was one point I missed: A relaxed Assad clearly believes that Syria is emerging from its pariah status. An international tribunal is still … Continue reading

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The truth about David Ignatius

At the end of his post about a Washington Post editorial yesterday, Daled Amos writes: Maybe they should just go back to having terrorists writing op-eds. Maybe someone in the Post’s editorial department was listening because today, op-ed columnist David … Continue reading

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How do you say “your maximum leader has no chin” in Arabic?

This is a great bit of psychological warfare. Recently, Israel hacked into the Syrian phone system, and sent thousands of messages to Syrians offering a $10 million reward for information on the whereabouts of missing Israeli soldiers. It’s not just … Continue reading

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Unintelligent sharing

Deja Vu observed the other day: Never mind, Miliband holds a joint news conference with the Syrian FM who blames Israeli bombs for the processed uranium UN inspectors uncovered. Miliband assures reporters that Syria is a good country, a true … Continue reading

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IAEA on Syria: There’s uranium in them there sands

Looks like the Syrians didn’t do a good enough job covering their tracks. Even the IAEA has officially come out and said they’ve found traces of uranium at the bombed site, although El Baradei is still refusing to confirm it … Continue reading

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Serious about Syria II?

Back when there were the initial reports that Israel had struck a Syrian nuclear facility, I was skeptical. I didn’t doubt that Israel had struck inside Syria, I just doubted that the target was nuclear. But as more details emerged, … Continue reading

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