Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Russia has submitted a plan for chemical weapons seizure in Syria.
If the Syrian regime has decided it is going to give up its chemical weapons, the international community might want to revisit what happened to the chemical weapons stockpiles in Iraq after the 1991 conflict.
Russia’s position on Syria is based in large part on Moscow’s concerns about the political repercussions of intervention. At the G20 Summit, Vladimir Putin attempted to create a de facto referendum on intervention.
Although Putin’s statements have been seen as flexible rhetoric, Russia’s policy toward Syria has not changed.
A military strike in Syria will not result in changing the parameters of the conflict and will not result in President Assad agreeing to a political process.
For Iran, the Syrian conflict has been a zero sum game, making it difficult to negotiate.
The Friends of Syria have played what may be their last card. What difference will it make on the ground?
President Obama’s 72 hour visit to Latin America widely ignored the critical issues of drugs and immigration due to the delicate nature of U.S. negotiations on immigration as well as the security issues associated with the illicit drug trade.
Following the Syrian crisis, Turkey's main role will be that of providing reconstruction aid.
The recent NATO decision to deploy missiles along the Turkish-Syrian border has been framed in terms of a defense strategy for Turkey, but the same missiles could conceivably provide cover for refugees fleeing the violence.