Epstein Secrets

source of instability in the troubled Middle East. Is there any compromise that might appeal to all sides? The Assad government seems adamant that Bashar will not step down. The opposition is fragmented but united in demanding that the Assad regime be replaced. How would a "transition" government be

gh for this crisis to become a major source of instability in the troubled Middle East. Is there any compromise that might appeal to all sides? The Assad government seems adamant that Bashar will not step down. The opposition is fragmented but united in demanding that the Assad regime be replaced. H

w the parties to begin to discuss tradeoffs and approaches for a framework of political transition that will involve hard compromises. For example, Bashar al-Assad has consistently indicated that presidential elections scheduled for June 2014 should be adhered to. Of course, he can be expected to rig those ele

ny overall political reconciliation. The lack of normalized relations will continue to perpetuate the negative aspect of relations between Iran and the Gulf States because the U.S. will be unable to leverage substantial ties with Iran into a win-win regional security strategy. Although the strategic rivalry be

ed when I heard a week ago Thursda= evening that the US military launched 59 tomahawk missiles against a Syrian airfield to punish Syria's President Bashar Assad for allegedly usi=g chemical weapons to attack his own citizens. This act was a dramatic reversal from Trump's pledges to limit U.S. invo=vement in

g Syria's neighbors and =he Europeans to sort out the mess. For years President Obama had resisted growing calls to intervene militarily against the Assad regime. President Barack Obama's decision to refrain from engagement in 2013 was crit=cized as feckless at the time and is cited now as one of the r

ishment in itself rather than as a tool to achieve any particular strategy," said Jeffrey Prescott, who served as director for Iran, =raq, Syria and the Gulf States at the National Security Council under Obama from 2015 =c, 2017. "Even days later, they are basking in the glow, but we do not=have a clear sense of

bate is taking place in the Iranian establishment over whether its regional policies—backing Shi'a and Shi'a-friendly forces like Hezbollah and the Assad and Maliki governments to the hilt in brutal civil wars-is working. According to The Wall Street Journal, Iranian doves are pointing to the recent

Bye, Bye, Sykes-Picot." In other words, they are out to bring down not only the Syrian and Iraqi regimes but also the Arab system itself. President Bashar Al-Assad had said, in an interview with a Lebanese paper two weeks ago, that Damascus has received messages from Western governments lately. The Saudi roy

under the banner of ISIS, which shook the region and the world by routing Iraq's army and occupying much of the country. Meanwhile, the Saudis and the Gulf States, where there is a great deal of sympathy for ISIS, are engaged in a complicated dance that certainly involves some degree of tacit backing for the

involvement. The French government is considering sending a similar force to Libya. Al-Asad's Token Concession Fails to Convince Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad ordered new legislation that rescinds emergency powers that have been in effect for forty- eight years, but the move has failed to alleviate the pop

ndreds were reported wounded. One protestor was killed by police bullets in Taiz after setting fire to tires in a street. Meanwhile, mediators from the Gulf States were trying to broker a meeting between besieged President Ali Abdullah Saleh and leaders of the opposition. U.K. Sending Military Advisers "On th

found at the site on March 27. Syria Appears to be Preparing Attack on Rebels Reports from Syria appear to indicate that forces loyal to President Bashar Al-Asad are preparing to mount an offensive against rebels based in the coastal town of Banias. Farther south, in Dara'a, eyewitnesses report bodies remain

ollowing the end of Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year reign. Saleh and the opposition parties that brought about his ouster agreed to a deal brokered by the Gulf States in which Saleh will resign within 30 days and elections will be held within 60 days. Saleh's party, the General People's Congress, and the opposit

hing really grave happens (Iran for example) — the US will not stand by. The world will take action!" And I say: Don't bet on it. Look at Syria. Assad has massacred 200,000 of his own people — with tanks, artillery, fighter jets, even chemical weapons — and the world did not lift a finger. And t

What do I mean? The events in • recent years have created a strong common interest for Israel and the moderate Arab countries — Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, Jordan, Egypt and perhaps even Turkey (which is not Arab). The focal interest is the struggle against radical Islamic terrorism and against Iran