Tag Archives: Syrian conflict

Loneliness, Not So “Precious” After All

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 4, 2016 The mother of all Turkey’s current foreign policy problems in the Middle East is our misguided involvement in the Syrian conflict. Yes, President Assad may have been a dictator; yes, he may have missed opportunities to start … Continue reading →

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“Dissent Channel Memo” on Syria

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

June 22, 2016 Fifty-one State Department officials have signed a “dissent channel memo” calling for a “more militarily assertive U.S. role in Syria”. The availability of a “dissent channel” constitutes solid proof of respect for different opinions and their free … Continue reading →

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The Long War Against ISIL

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

May 30, 2016 In March, 2013, Free Syrian Army troops and Islamist rebel forces, including al-Nusra captured Raqqa. Soon, however, members and flags of the Islamic State appeared. By early 2014, ISIL had taken complete control of the town. Since … Continue reading →

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US, Russia and Their Regional Allies

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

May 19, 2016 International Syria Support Group (ISSG) met in Vienna on 17 May 2016. In keeping with the tradition, the Group issued a statement (*) and the Co-Chairs and UN Envoy Staffan di Mistura made remarks to the press … Continue reading →

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The Obama Legacy: A View from the Middle East

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

May 2, 2016 It was a few months before the 2008 US Presidential election. I was talking to my American colleague at UNESCO. I said to her that since American presidents’ decisions have global implications, democratic countries should also have … Continue reading →

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Obama’s Redline in Syria

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 29, 2016 Roughly a year ago I wrote that President Obama’s decision to refrain from military action in Syria, despite a previously declared “redline”, would best be judged by history. However, the controversy around his decision seems to continue. … Continue reading →

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Ripple Effect of the Syrian Conflict

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 25, 2016 In early February scientists announced that they had finally detected gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space and time that Einstein predicted a century ago. They are only to be congratulated. Their achievement must have … Continue reading →

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Combatting ISIL Remains a Formidable Task

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

Co-authored with Yusuf Buluc (*) February 10, 2016 On February 4, 2016 Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, an adviser to the Saudi Defense Minister and also spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen reportedly stated, during an interview, that the … Continue reading →

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