Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The ultimate solution to the security challenges in Libya resides in improved governance and the construction of a cohesive national army.
The turmoil in the Middle East, highlighted by the assassination of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, is fraught with security implications for the region.
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.
Although tainted by the recent violence in the region, the democratic transitions sparked by the Arab uprisings cannot be measured in days or months, but in decades.
Since Libya established a secular democracy, conservative Muslims in Libya, known as Salafists, have felt disenfranchised. The attack on the American embassy is in part an effort to gain public attention.
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.