I predict that the Syrian regime will ‘win’ the Syrian referendum.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  February 26th at 11:34 PM  | 

Oh, yes: they’re having a referendum “to limit the government’s powers.” Those aren’t literal quotes; those are scare quotes, mostly because I do not particularly believe that the Assad regime has any intention of reducing its power over the Syrian people, and I do not think that you should particularly believe it, either. Admittedly, I am not entirely certain why the regime is bothering. Nobody | Read More »

U.S. Officials: Al Qaeda in Iraq Behind Deadly Bombings in Damascus and Aleppo, Syria

By: Jeff Emanuel (Diary)  |  February 10th at 10:26 PM  | 

U.S. officials have reportedly confirmed that deadly bombings in the Syrian cities of Damascus (in December and January) and Aleppo (Friday) were the work of al Qaeda in Iraq, whose members were acting with authorization from al Qaeda central head and Osama bin Laden successor Ayman al-Zawahiri. According to McClatchy: The Iraqi branch of al Qaida, seeking to exploit the bloody turmoil in Syria to | Read More »

Rethinking the Calls for Intervention in Syria

By: Jeff Emanuel (Diary)  |  February 10th at 06:00 AM  | 

My RedState colleague and good friend Victoria Coates recently wrote a post calling for a humanitarian intervention in Syria on behalf of the opposition and civilians who are being killed daily by Bashar al-Assad’s regime.  She writes: “In dealing with Libya and Syria, consistency need not be the hobgoblin of little minds but can rather be the hallmark of a consistent and coordinated foreign policy.  | Read More »

Syrian opposition misses unilateralist cowboy George W. Bush.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  December 21st at 04:30 PM  | 

At least, that’s the impression that one gets from the fairly unambiguous picture found below: Obama’s procrastination kills us: We miss Bush’s audacity. The world is better with America’s Republicans Occuped Kafranbel 16 12 2011 Kafranbel is a town in northern Syria which has been one of the centers of peaceful protests for most of 2011; and the photo looks legitimate.

The Road to Fatima Gate

By: Brad Jackson (Diary)  |  December 14th at 10:00 AM  | 

Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Pejman Yousefzadeh and Kevin Holtsberry are joined by Michael Totten, to discuss his book The Road to Fatima Gate: The Beirut Spring, the Rise of Hezbollah, and the Iranian War Against Israel, Iranian, Syrian, and Hezbollah efforts to control Lebanon, and Totten’s own personal encounters with Hezbollah. We’re brought to you | Read More »

With Rhetoric Rising, Is Syria the Next Libya?

By: Brad Jackson (Diary)  |  July 13th at 10:04 AM  | 

Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson is joined by Pejman Yousefzadeh and Elizabeth Blackney to discuss Hillary Clinton’s latest comments about Syria’s Resident Assad and ask, is Syria the next Libya? We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at | Read More »

Shall we reconsider blocking Ambassador Robert Ford’s appointment?

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  July 12th at 01:00 PM  | 

I’m starting to think that the current Republican opposition to Ford’s formal appointment as ambassador to Syria, while valid in general – we’re actually not well-advised to play Albright-style kissy-face games with rogue states – may be counterproductive in this specific case. Then again, the general principle doesn’t apply here, does it? After all, Ambassador Ford is not exactly playing nice with the Assad regime; | Read More »

Almost the Ultimate Carter Moment in Damascus.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  July 11th at 02:00 PM  | 

Here is a free hint to all appointed members of the Obama administration: if Syrian ‘loyalists’ follow up today’s attack against the US Embassy in Damascus… Protesters loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad briefly broke into the US embassy in Damascus on Monday and security guards used live ammunition to prevent them storming the French embassy, diplomats said. …by actually seizing the embassy?  If that | Read More »

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress: a Reinforcement, not a Renegotiation

By: Jeff Emanuel (Diary)  |  May 24th at 04:00 PM  | 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a joint session of the U.S. Congress for the second time today (and for the first time in fifteen years), fresh off a meeting with President Obama on Friday, Obama’s Middle Eastern address Thursday, and dueling weekend speeches between the two leaders at AIPAC. The first few minutes were well-used defining the scope of the current fight against | Read More »

American Spring: Time to Stop Funding Terror Around the World

By: Daniel Horowitz (Diary)  |  May 19th at 12:58 PM  | 

Barack Obama has many sinister friends who are egregiously subsidized by taxpayers, but at least they aren’t terrorists.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for his foreign patrons.  At a time when Congress is searching for any morsel to cut from our domestic budget, Obama wants to expand foreign aid..to terrorists and terror filled nations.  His push for expanded foreign aid comes as part of | Read More »

Levantine Day of Protest Brings Attacks on Israel from All Sides

By: Jeff Emanuel (Diary)  |  May 15th at 05:08 PM  | 

“Nabka Day” 2011 represents two major milestones: (1) the 63rd anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel by UN resolution, and (2) very close to the 63rd straight year of the UN doing everything it can to make up for its half-century-plus-old “mistake.”  Sunday May 15, 2011 also represents the first anniversary of Israel’s establishment since the events of the “Arab Spring” | Read More »

Osama is Dead; Obama’s Foreign Policy is Still Dangerous and Perverse

By: Daniel Horowitz (Diary)  |  May 2nd at 03:30 PM  | 

The big news of the day is that Osama is dead as a result of the brave work of our Special Forces and intelligence teams, as well as the Bush administration policies of terrorists interrogations and targeted assassinations.  Yes, the very policies that Obama so vociferously opposed for political benefit.  President Obama is to be congratulated for disavowing his campaign pledge and continuing those George | Read More »

Syria firing on funerals/protests.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  April 23rd at 11:00 AM  | 

The line between the two can get blurry in the Middle East, but it’s being reported that the Assad regime have escalating what has been a steadily-deteriorating situations in Syria.  The death toll from yesterday is… well, Syria is keeping foreign reporters out, which makes getting an accurate count correct; but what is getting out is consistent with the Syrians using lethal means to enforce | Read More »

OPEN THREAD: ‘Anti-Americanism + Nuclear Programs = Happy Dictators. Embracing America = Setting Yourself up to be Stabbed in the Back’

By: Jeff Emanuel (Diary)  |  March 29th at 02:30 PM  | 

Courtesy of The Cold Equations, here is a handy cheat sheet for dictatorial longevity. Country Prior relations with the US Nuclear weapons program US treatment of country Status of leader Egypt Allied Not significant Pressured ally to step down Permanent vacation Libya Moderately warm lately, despite past difficulties Abandoned under US pressure Bombs away Probably on his way out Syria Strained to hostile Not a | Read More »

The Obama Doctrine: Funding Terrorists in Israel and Libya, Silence on Syria

By: Daniel Horowitz (Diary)  |  March 29th at 01:28 PM  | 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been duping leftists in Western governments for years into thinking he is Mr. Peace.  During the past decade, successive governments in the U.S. and Europe have been genuflecting to Abbas and his Fatah terrorist organization.  They have showered the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority with more foreign aid per capita than even any legitimate country.  The implicit purpose was to strengthen | Read More »