Massive Mission Creep in Syria Despite Trump’s Pledge to Withdraw

Juan Cole / Informed Comment May 28, 2018 The U.S. is now doing the opposite of what it said it would in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

In Donald Trump’s Shadow, Will East Aleppo Fall to the Assad Regime and Its Russian Backer?

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 29, 2016 Since Trump's election, Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin have thrown caution to the wind. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Putin Has the Winning Hand in Syria, as Turkey Apologizes and Obama Deals (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Jul 3, 2016 The Russian intervention in Syria substantially changed the conversation surrounding Vladimir Putin in the aftermath of the Crimea annexation. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Why Does the U.S. Care If Russia Bombs al-Qaida and Its Allies in Syria? (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Oct 5, 2015 President Obama on Friday pledged not to turn Syria into an arena for a proxy war between the U.S. and the Russian Federation. But he went on to criticize President Vladimir Putin for attempting to prop up Syrian ruler Bashar Assad. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Why Obama and Putin Are Both Wrong on Syria

Juan Cole / Truthdig Sep 29, 2015 President Obama seemed awfully defensive in his speech at the United Nations on Monday. It's because while his own plans to defeat Islamic State have failed, Russia’s Vladimir Putin has gotten militarily involved in the fight against the group—with the help of Syria's Bashar Assad. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Russia Denounces Obama Plan for Syria Airstrikes as Violation of International Law

Juan Cole / Truthdig Sep 13, 2014 Russia on Thursday pushed back against President Obama’s plans for taking on the Islamic State in Syria. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama’s ISIS Actions Are Defensive, Despite Rhetoric of Going on Offensive

Juan Cole / Truthdig Sep 11, 2014 President Obama’s speech launching his war on ISIS avoided the qualifications that he had earlier made, which had produced caviling inside the Beltway from politicians who confuse careless belligerency with decisiveness. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Will It Be a 3 Years War? Obama to Bomb Syria in Fight Against ISIS

Juan Cole / Truthdig Sep 10, 2014 At a Monday evening dinner at the White House attended by foreign policy experts, President Obama expressed confidence that he had the authority to bomb ISIS positions in Syria. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Would a U.S./NATO War in Syria Be Legal in International Law?

Juan Cole / Truthdig Sep 8, 2014 Efforts are being made in Congress to give President Barack Obama the formal authority to conduct airstrikes in Syria against ISIL. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Why Romney Is Wrong That Obama’s Syria Policy Emboldened Putin

Juan Cole / Truthdig Mar 24, 2014 On "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Mitt Romney slammed President Obama’s policies toward Russia as “naive” and called the country a “geopolitical adversary” of the U.S. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Syria Talks

Emad Hajjaj, Cagle Cartoons, Jordan Oct 9, 2013 Dig deeper

Bellicose Obama

Dario Castillejos, Cagle Cartoons, Dario La Crisis Sep 24, 2013 Dig deeper