Topic: Bashar Assad
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Opinion Five guidelines for US role in Syria
The civil war in Syria has reached a stalemate. While strategic military steps like arming the opposition or establishing a no-fly zone present complications, the US can do other things to bring aid, support the opposition, undermine the Assad regime, and counter a rising Islamist influence. Here are five guidelines for the US in addressing the conflict in Syria:
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Backchannels Reports of 'Islamism's' demise are greatly exaggerated
There's been a fair bit of commentary to the contrary. But it's not clear it's even a hammer-blow for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
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Netanyahu neither confirms nor denies July airstrike against Syria
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not confirm or deny a reported Israeli airstrike which recently targeted advanced Russian missiles in Syria. Netanyahu reasserted Israel's commitment to preventing dangerous weapons from reaching the hands of Hezbollah.
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US lethal aid to Syrian rebels: What's the holdup?
Concern in congressional intelligence committees over the prospects of US small arms falling into the wrong hands has delayed the lethal aid to Syrian rebels. Some say it may arrive too late.
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Global News Blog Good Reads: From rules for rebels, to elevator cables, to an enchanting sci-fi world
This week's round-up of Good Reads includes rules for arming rebels, defense contractors may know more than our own government, buildings may get taller thanks to new elevator cables, a profile of a cyberwar general, and sci-fi brings magic back to the mundane.
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Terrorism & Security Russian report says sarin used in Syria – by rebels
The Russian report alleges that the rebels fired a rocket laced with homemade sarin into Aleppo in March.
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Beirut bombing targets Hezbollah and its Syrian mission
The Shiite militant group has been waiting for retaliation in Lebanon for its role fighting alongside the Syrian regime.
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Ramadan truce across Syria? UN Chief Ban Ki-moon makes an appeal
On the eve of Ramadan, Ban Ki-moon called for everyone in Syria to put down their weapons during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, 'for the sake of the Syrian people.'
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Olive Press A sign of peace rises on the edge of Syria
An Israeli engineering student gathered 30 people from his Golan Heights kibbutz to construct a giant peace sign on the de-facto Israel-Syria border.
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In Israel, doctors quietly treat injured Syrians
Doctors argue they have a humanitarian responsibility to treat those wounded in Syria's civil war, but the government is quick to say it will keep the scope of Israeli assistance limited.
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Pentagon slammed for $1 billion deal with banned arms dealer
Including the new contract, the Pentagon has spent more than $1 billion on helicopters and related maintenance and service with Rosoboronexport, Assad's top arms supplier.
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Why Hezbollah has openly joined the Syrian fight
The Lebanese Shiite militant organization once denied its involvement in Syria, but is now holding lavish public funerals for its fighters killed in action.
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‘Friends of Syria’ meeting adds pressure: What is US ready to do?
Other countries and the Syrian rebels are awaiting specifics about new US aid, but President Obama is still weighing what steps to take and how far to go, reflecting continuing deep divisions across the administration.
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Kerry and 'Friends of Syria' to meet in Doha
The meeting will address arming Syrian rebels and a stalled peace effort. Lots of supporters of rebels will be there, but key backers of Syria's government, like Russia, won't.
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Backchannels What's Obama's strategy for Syria?
Go figure.
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G8 wraps with progress on tax evasion - but not on Syria
The summit leaders agreed to crack down on money laundering and illegal tax evasion, but Russia and the West remain at odds over how to resolve the Syrian civil war.
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'G7 plus one'? Isolated Russia holds line on Syria.
The G8 summit ended today with Russia far from agreement with the West over how to resolve the Syrian civil war. Russian experts say the rift is probably permanent.
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Obama, Putin in stare-down over (no, not the Super Bowl ring) Syria war (+video)
Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin, meeting at the G8 summit, both said they want a negotiated end to the Syria conflict. But that barely masked deep divisions over how best to pressure Syrian President Assad to talk rather than fight.
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Iran election: What does Hassan Rohani mean for the United States?
Iran's new president Hassan Rohani is considered a reform-minded moderate. But ruling clerics and the Revolutionary Guard remain in control of Iran's nuclear program and foreign affairs – including its close relationship with the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
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In Syria, do Americans hear echoes of Vietnam and Iraq? (+video)
Polls consistently show most Americans oppose direct military involvement in the Syrian civil war. But that changes with the presumption that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons.
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Backchannels Is Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood backing a jihad in Syria? (+video)
The Sunni Islamist movement behind Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has called for a mass rally in support of Syria's rebellion. Sectarian tensions over the war there are growing hotter.
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Did Bill Clinton goad Obama into stepping up in Syria?
Former President Clinton told a private forum this week that President Obama would look like 'a total fool' if he followed public opinion too closely on Syria. Now the US is sending small arms to the rebels.
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Backchannels Has a 'red line' in Syria been crossed?
And so what if it has?
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US military aid to Syria rebels: Why Obama is starting with the minimum
Obama's cautious shift away from providing only non-lethal assistance to Syria's rebels reflects continued deep misgivings about sending US arms into the war and a desire to keep a door open to diplomacy.
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USA Update Syria crosses 'red line' on chemical weapons. How will Obama respond? (+video)
US officials say the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons 'multiple times' to kill at least 100 rebel fighters and civilians. Obama had warned Syria of 'enormous consequences' if it crossed that 'red line.'
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Backchannels Wusses, US foreign policy, and the horrific death toll in Syria
Former President Bill Clinton suggested President Obama was being a 'wuss' over intervention in Syria as the UN reported the death toll has reached 93,000.







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