In Beirut: Fractured Summit, Deadlocked Government

by Ghassan Michel Rubeiz The Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, which ended in Beirut on January 20, was trivialized by politics. Lebanon convened this important regional event before forming a new government that has been in the making for… Continue Reading

Trump Punts on Syria

by John Feffer Donald Trump wants to pull U.S. troops out of Syria as quickly as possible. Well, it’s Wednesday, so that’s what the president wants now. Tomorrow, who knows, maybe he’ll insist that Syria pay for the pullout. Maybe… Continue Reading

Is U.S. Withdrawal from Syria Pushing Gulf Arabs Closer to Russia?

by Mark N. Katz At this point, it is not clear when—or even if—the Trump administration will carry out the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria that President Donald Trump said he would undertake.  Trump’s initial statement that the United… Continue Reading