It’s hard to believe, but Bashar al-Assad once presented himself to the world as Syria’s modernizer.
America and the World
Magnificent Trespasser
An appreciation of political economist Albert Hirschman
Labour’s Rise
The leader of the British Labour Party emerges as a true political leader
How to Make Allies and Influence Syria
The fall of the Assad regime looks inevitable. The United States and NATO must step in to ensure a peaceful transition.
Netanyahu: New Look, More Radical Taste
Come the January 22 Israeli elections, the current prime minister will almost certainly keep his title, but with a sharp turn to the far right.Â
Why Are Chemical Weapons Different?
Do they belong in the same category as nuclear and biological weapons?
Taking Opposite Tacks on Iran and Syria
Viewed from the region, talk of war takes on a different hue.
The Gaza Cease-Fire: A Beginning, Not an End
Last week’s successful negotiations will be a failure of leadership if they do not pave the way for an end to the occupation.
Deterrence Can’t Replace Diplomacy
Israel’s offensive shows the limits of military intervention.
Obama’s Next Move in the Middle East
There are lots of possible courses of action that the president could take in his response to the fighting in Gaza, but which is the best?

