06-06-2012

Andrew TABLER

The Obama Administration and Syria: From "off the table" to on

Actuelle de l'Ifri, 6 juin 2012

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A quick look at the news dealing with the Syrian uprising the last year shows a slow progression from protests and civil resistance towards violence. The Obama Administration’s policy dealing with what many have called “slow motion revolution” has evolved in fits and starts, with mixed episodes of confusion, assertiveness, denial and drift. Washington is now stuck at a crossroads: continue a policy of sanctions and diplomatic isolation that will help bring down the Assad regime in the medium to long term as the country tips toward greater violence or adopt a more robust approach involving military assistance to the Syrian opposition and perhaps direct military involvement to hasten Assad’s demise and head off what many predict could be a civil war that is likely to suck in regional and international powers alike.