If a lasting peace is to be achieved, the main motivation behind the talks cannot be simply ‘to restore political order.’
The pattern of strikes by the disjointed US-led coalition of Operation Inherent Resolve remains the best and most reliable public indicator of intentions and future operations in the short-term.
Today’s London conference might make a start by assessing the world’s catastrophic failure to stop the carnage in Syria and how this should be addressed for the future.
Those organising Syria’s peace talks must go beyond merely ticking the gender representation box. It's essential to move towards real inclusion of women peace advocates and larger civil society.
Hans Blix ponders his long career in international politics and diplomacy, the state of the Middle East, and why he is an advocate for nuclear power. Interview.
A series of related events point to a possible endgame scenario in Syria and Iraq.
The US may be tempted to congratulate itself for wrangling Russia to the table for the meeting on Syria’s peace talks. Yet an indispensable party is missing: Syrian women.
Turkey-Russia spat is a symptom of different, often incompatible agendas.
While the French president has won public approval and international backing for the fight against IS, differences persist about the necessity of coordinating with Russia.
However groundless the Sykes-Picot Agreement, is a Balkanisation of Syria and Iraq really the way forward?
Until the war ends and concerted international efforts to rebuild Syria and Iraq are implemented, the root causes of mass displacement will remain.
The words ‘precision-guided missiles’ are used to make us think that British warplanes can go there and help the good guys, the so-called moderate rebels, without much, if any, collateral damage.
