defection der zor

Syria: AU Chief Calls Situation “Worrying”

Reports of protests, refugees and military defections (above) continue to come from Syria. The Syrian government has called on refugees in Turkey to return in spite of continued  military mobilization in the north. Arab League Secretary General, Amr ...

Radio Series: What Fueled the Arab Spring

In an effort to fight against the economic challenges posed by governments in the Middle East, the Arab Spring has successfully overthrown some regimes. However, many countries still face dire economic challenges as they try to move forward in their quest toward democracy. America Abroad has posted a new listening program on their website, "Roots of the Arab Spring," that will also air on National Public Radio on June ...

ICG: New Report “Making Sense of Libya”

The International Crisis Group (ICG) released a report entitled "Making Sense of Libya," making the case for a reconsideration of the methods to achieve a post-Gadhafi Libya. ICG presented eight principles to guide a negotiated settlement between the Transitional National Council (TNC) and the remnants of Muammar Gadhafi's regime.  The ICG are concerned that demanding Gadhafi's departure before beginning negotiations will result in continued violence. If Gadhafi is forced to ...

POMED Notes: “Arab Spring: Is America Getting It Right?”

On Tuesday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a debate to be aired on BBC's The World Debate on U.S. foreign policy in response to the uprisings in the Middle East. Matt Frei, anchor for BBC's World News America moderated the event and introduced the following panelists: Marwan Muasher, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment; Tamara Wittes, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Near Eastern ...

POMED Notes: From Revolution to Democracy: Lessons for Political Transitions in the Middle East & North Africa

On Tuesday, the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum hosted a discussion on what lessons from South Africa and Indonesia can be applied to the political transitions in the Middle East and North Africa.  Leena El-Ali, Director of the Muslim-Western Relations and the Middle East and North Africa Programs at Search for Common Ground, who moderated the event, made opening remarks and introduced the following panelists: Endy Bayuni, Visiting Fellow at ...

Egypt & Other Providing Diplomatic Cover for Syria

The Turtle Bay blog at Foreign Policy has obtained confidential documents from United Nations negotiations showing that Arab and Muslim-majority countries, including Egypt, have been providing Syria diplomatic cover. Specifically it reveals that Egypt not only supported efforts to derail a UN Security Council vote against Syria, but actively proposed resolutions affirming the "principle of non-interference" in matters of the state. The piece also discusses the abstention of Saudi Arabia, ...

Bashar

Calls for Western Leaders to Reject Assad

Simon Tisdall, writing at The Guardian's Comment is Free, calls western defense of Bashar al-Assad as a legitimate leader "morally-bankrupt" and "nakedly self-interested."  Tisdall notes that the Obama administration has yet to call on Assad to step down despite ...

Kerry Announces Support for Sanctions on Syria, Calls for Increased Pressure

On Friday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released a statement after President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order imposing economic sanctions against Syrian officials responsible for perpetuating human rights abuses. "Syrians are every bit as deserving of human rights and dignity as the Libyans, Tunisians, and Egyptians and the government should have met their protests with responsiveness not repression.  That the government would continue to respond to ...

Arab League Reactions to Protests

In the wake of the siege on Deraa, the Arab League has expressed concern over the situation in Syria. Referring to the escalated protests and repression thereof as a "serious dilemma," the reaction falls short of the mounting condemnation from the UN and Western nations. The Arab League added that regimes should not resist such "historic" movements. Conversely, the regional organization has postponed its May meeting due to criticisms by ...

Analyst Notes The New Age of Pan-Arabism

Writing at Foreign Policy, Parag Khanna notes the new age of Pan-Arabism that is characterized by societies demanding good governance and an inclusive political process.  He states that the anti-authoritarian revolutions are "truly borderless"  following Al Jazeera's shaming of Arab autocrats -- with the exception of Bahrain -- and young activists training together across the region.  Khanna also highlights the Arab League's backing of a no-fly zone in Libya and considerations ...

Libya Updates: TNC Discusses Possible Ceasefire, Gains Support of Arab League

On Friday, the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) leader, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil stated that the TNC would accept a ceasefire only if Gadhafi's forces immediately withdraw from Libyan cities. The group also issued statements against terrorism and Al-Qaeda.  U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that al-Qaeda is unlikely to be able to "hijack" the uprisings in Libya and Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) also stated that there are "some very sophisticated people" leading ...

POMED Notes: “Libya: Defining U.S. National Security Interests”

On Thursday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing to discuss the current situation in Libya and U.S. involvement.  The committee—chaired by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), with ranking member Howard Berman (D-CA) in attendance—, requested the testimony of Deputy Secretary James B. Steinberg. To read full notes, continue below or click here for pdf. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen opened by stating that the President’s address to the nation on Monday was a ...

Takeyh Believes Saudi and Egypt are Key, Not Libya

Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Ray Takeyh, believes that the most important events taking place in the Middle East over the last week are not the military actions in Libya, but the "plebiscite in Egypt," "the stalled attempt to usher in a constitutional rule in Bahrain, " and "the ongoing turmoil in Yemen." Takeyh believes that the U.S. must continue ardently supporting reform in the region even in ...

Members of Congress Question Administration’s Libya Policy, Call for Congressional Hearings and Debate

On Wednesday, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), in a letter to President Barack Obama, called on the administration to "provide the American people and Congress a clear and robust assessment of the scope, objective, and purpose of our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved."  Boehner provided the president with a list of questions which he believes must be answered including the "contradiction" between the stated goal of ...

Zakaria Discusses U.S. Approach to Libya and Calls for Limited Military Involvement

Writing for Time Magazine, Fareed Zakaria discusses how the Obama Administration's multilateral approach to Libya differs from past U.S. presidents' approach to international conflict since the Cold War.  He states that in the past, U.S. leaders have "unilaterally identified crises, articulated responses, determined actions and then persuaded, bribed and threatened countries to join in the collective action."  He argues that, "America has always done better in the role of the reluctant ...

POMED Notes: “Popular Uprisings in the Middle East: The Implications for U.S. Policy”

On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on the implications of uprisings in the Middle East has on U.S. policy. The Committee—chaired by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) – with ranking member Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) in attendance –requested the testimony of William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs. To read full notes, continue below or click here for pdf. Senator John Kerry opened by stating that the ...

POMED Notes: “Sen. John Kerry on U.S. Policy Toward the Middle East”

Senator John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, on U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East in light of the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and continued unrest and protests across the entire region.  Marwan Muasher, vice president of studies at The Carnegie Endowment introduced Senator Kerry and made brief remarks about the current unrest in the region. For ...

Arab Support for the No Fly Zone Exaggerated

Writing in Foreign Policy, Marc Lynch argues that there is "both more and less to this Arab support than meets the eye."  He states that there is deep concern among Arab leaders and populace over the situation in Libya, "when it comes to military intervention, however, this deep identification with the Libyan protesters intersects uncomfortably with the enduring legacy of Iraq."  He states that the invasion and occupation of ...

Senator Lugar: Arab League Should Pay for No-Fly Zone

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), issued a press release today on the possible implementation of a no-fly zone on Libya, stating that any effective no-fly zone policy would likely require U.S. military participation, at great cost to the American taxpayer.  He stated that due to the uncertainty over the success a no-fly zone would have, that U.S. national interests would most likely not be served by such a policy.  If the ...

Clinton: Intervention in Libya Requires International Support

Speaking on CBS's The Early Show, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed questions about international efforts in Libya stating that the British and French governments are going to the United Nations with a draft resolution to authorize international action and that the administration believes that it is important that there be a U.N. decision on whatever might be done and that the effort is not solely an American, NATO, or European one, ...

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