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Source: Getty

In The Media

Syria War Remains After Chemicals Weapons

If the conflict in Syria is to be resolved, it is important to go beyond the chemical attack issue and work through a political process that would end the war.

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By Marwan Muasher
Published on Sep 13, 2013
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The Middle East Program in Washington combines in-depth regional knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to provide deeply informed recommendations. With expertise in the Gulf, North Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine, we examine crosscutting themes of political, economic, and social change in both English and Arabic.

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Source: Bloomberg TV

Speaking on Bloomberg TV’s In the Loop, Carnegie’s Marwan Muasher explained that if the conflict in Syria is to be resolved, it is important to go beyond the chemical attack issue and work through a political process that would end the war. A U.S. strike against Syria, Muasher argued, will be more of a face saving measure rather than solving the problem. “Let us remember than the chemical weapons issue is not the only issue on the table. There’s still a war going on with a 100,000 people killed,” he asserted.

Offering context on a peaceful solution to the crisis, Muasher said that the United States and Russia should agree to take the two sides to the Geneva II talks and start the political process that was agreed on by the UN last year in which a transitional government would be established and which will end with President Bashar Al-Assad and the regime leaving power in Syria. Even if the chemical weapons issue is resolved, Muasher noted, the war will still continue if there is no political process in place to end it. 

This interview was originally aired on Bloomberg TV.

About the Author

Marwan Muasher

Vice President for Studies

Marwan Muasher is vice president for studies at Carnegie, where he oversees research in Washington and Beirut on the Middle East. Muasher served as foreign minister (2002–2004) and deputy prime minister (2004–2005) of Jordan, and his career has spanned the areas of diplomacy, development, civil society, and communications.

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Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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