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A White House Divided on Syria

(Foreign Policy) Michael Singh - One of the key departures President Obama made was in his approach toward Syria. Rather than continuing to heap pressure on the Syrian regime, the Obama Administration returned to the policy of engaging Syria practiced by past administrations. After two years, this approach to Syria has not only been unsuccessful, it was flawed in its conception. There is little reason to believe that Bashar al-Assad is truly interested in a Syrian-Israeli peace; Syria's state of war with Israel provides his justification for permanent "emergency laws," and the relations with Iran and Hizbullah which he would need to sacrifice to make a deal profit his regime greatly. A more creative approach is needed, which should include reinvigorated economic and political pressure using sanctions and support for Syrian democracy activists. The writer is managing director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2011-04-01 00:00:00
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