Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Syria is widely believed to possess weapons of mass destruction, in particular a large chemical weapons arsenal.
Despite rising levels of violence in Syria, the United States should focus less on intervention and more on planning for the day after the fall of the regime.
Refugees are pouring into neighboring countries to avoid the chaotic violence in Syria. Jordan is taking a large number of these refugees and straining its budget at a time of political instability.
The perpetuation of the Assad regime is critical to Iran's efforts to maintain its regional influence, and Tehran has demonstrated it will do whatever it can to aid Assad and his regime.
Syria is too important as an Iranian ally for Tehran to engage in a political transition process that would result in the ousting of the Assad regime.
As violence continues to spiral out of control in Syria, all signs point to a protracted struggle for the future of Syria.
As violence continues to spiral out of control in Syria, the United States has begun to play a larger behind the scenes role in aiding the Syrian opposition.
Recent defections could lead the Syrian regime and its Alawite supporters to entrench even further and potentially unleash even greater violence.
The recent public protests in Moscow differ from those in December and March because so far, they seem centered in Moscow, while the previous protests were widespread throughout the country.
A no-fly zone in Syria could risk formalizing the fragmentation and divisions in the country.