Tag Archives: Syria

Learning Again to Live With Wars

August 17, 2026 Since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the Middle East has been traumatized by Western interventions, wars, power competition, and peace treaties among regional adversaries that have failed to embrace … Continue reading

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Syria Struggling for Peace and Stability

January 26, 2026 The US-Israel-led Western project to remake the Middle East started with the invasion of Iraq and continued with the regime change project in  Libya, followed by Syria. In December 2024, the HTS seized the capital Damascus unopposed … Continue reading

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Peace in the Middle East?

January 7, 2026 With the US attack on Venezuela, Gaza and Ukraine have moved down the global agenda. Previously, there was a seesaw relationship between the two. When violence or “peace efforts” in one attracted attention, the other faded into … Continue reading

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2025: A Year of Disappointments                

December 15, 2025 In two weeks, the year 2025 will be behind us. The end of a year is a moment of reflection on the achievements, disappointments, and failures of the past twelve months and whether different paths could have … Continue reading

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Türkiye’s Radish War

April 21, 2025 Following President Erdoğan’s first use of it in early January after the arrest of Mr. Rıza Akpolat, the Mayor of the Beşiktaş district of İstanbul, “radish” has become the top word of the Turkish political lexicon. Once … Continue reading

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The Question of the Endgame in Gaza (2)

April 7, 2025 On January 18, 2025, following the Israeli government’s approval of the Gaza ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement.  He notably declared that Israel retains the right to return to the war, if necessary, with the … Continue reading

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Toward a More Transactional Relationship

January 27, 2025 President Trump’s inaugural address lasted for thirty minutes.[i] He said little about the guiding principles of Washington’s future foreign and security policy. He once again stressed that America would soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional … Continue reading

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A Ceasefire in Gaza but Regional Challenges Remain

January 20, 2025 The Hamas-Israel ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange agreement went into effect yesterday with the release of three Israeli woman hostages and ninety Palestinian prisoners, mostly women. During the past fifteen months, nearly 47,000 Gazans were killed and more … Continue reading

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President Biden’s Foreign and Security Policy

January 16, 2025 Last Monday, at the US State Department, Mr. Biden delivered his last foreign and security policy speech as president.[i] His remarks were only words of praise for the achievements of his four years at the White House.  … Continue reading

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The New Year Begins with Uncertainties

January 2, 2025 Toward the end of 2024, Germany and France were engulfed in domestic political problems. Romania’s constitutional court annulled the country’s 2024 presidential election. Georgia remained in political turmoil. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial … Continue reading

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