“1980s Lebanon on Steroids”
At least that is what Marc Lynch imagines Syria could become now that the Chinese and Russian UN vetoes have all but eliminated the peaceful transition option. While the resolution explicitly ruled out military intervention (due to fears of another Libya-esque regime change operation) the Russian and China vetoes, according to Lynch, are likely to … Read more
Obama Won’t Intervene in Syria, Iran
Without UN backing, the Obama administration backed down regarding Syria and — as Scoblete says, ‘absent some dramatic event’ — it is likely that the US president will do the same when it comes to attacking Iran.
Downplaying the Holocaust?
Peter Goodspeed’s new article in the National Post is an interesting one that begins with the various creative things that Iran could do if the country was able to produce a nuclear warhead. Naturally, Goodspeed includes all the continuously repeated disaster scenarios that would ‘inevitably’ result in the destruction of Israel, including a fantastic comparison of Iranian … Read more
The “What-The-Hell-Is-Going-On” Iranian Terror Plot
Ready for some real conspiracy theory juiciness? Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu concluded the Shalit deal with Hamas now in order to clear the path for an attack on Iran that was now possible with the American-delivered bunker buster bombs. The plot on the Saudi ambassador primed the US public for increased hostility against Iran while opening Saudi Arabia up to cooperating with Israel on the attack on Iran.
Syria’s Civil War?
The Syrian episode of the Arab Spring seems to be stagnating in a horribly violent phase. The majority of protesters have remained true to non-violence, only to see continued repression and killing by the Assad regime (somewhere around 2,700 killed.) Some have turned to violent revolution based on the Libyan experience, though this number is reportedly in the minority. Internationally, western countries have tried and failed to pass a watered-down resolution at the United Nations, leading many to contemplate the possibility of establishing a no-fly zone over Syria.
NFAM Reading List 9/13/2011
Some suggested reading for 9/13: A “Humanitarian War” on Syria? Military Escalation. Towards a Broader Middle East-Central Asian War? - Global Research Kremlin firmly opposes UN sanctions on Syria - Washington Examiner In Syria: 2,600 Dead So Far, UN Official Says - Boise State Public Radio Has the Libyan Insurgency Begun? - Wired Danger Room Libya’s new harvest: the … Read more
Quote of the Day: Unbiased Analysis
“The Khomeinist leadership is in a state of panic,” crowed Amir Taheri, a long-time critic of the Islamic Republic, in the Saudi-owned, London-based Asharq al-Awsat. Eight months after the start of the Arab Spring, he added, “the ruling mullahs” fear that they, too, “may be on the path of the tsunami of change.” Taheri, of course, … Read more
Will Syrian Protests Turn Violent?
After six months of nonviolent protests have resulted in thousands of dead and injured civilians and have not produced any real reforms by the Syrian regime, some are calling for a move towards an armed uprising styled after the Libyan civil war. There are rumors of arms being smuggled into the country from neighboring Iraq … Read more
Implications of Turkey Cutting Military Ties with Israel on a Larger Scale
After Erdogan made a grand speech about rethinking Turkish-Israeli ties, Erdogan officially lowered diplomatic relations and suspended all military ties with Israel last night and this morning. Turkey, still rightfully upset with Israel, has decided to put some action behind their words and do this move. But what does the move intend to do? Is … Read more
Walt:The US Will Lose in Iraq
Piggy-Backing on my last post about the American decision to invade Iraq and the long-term consequences of doing so, I present Stephen Walt: Specifically: invading Iraq was never necessary, because Saddam Hussein had no genuine links to al Qaeda and no WMD, and because he could not have used any WMD that he might one … Read more
Chris Keeler
Chris Whitman
