Partition Could Make Violence in Syria Worse
Syria may not be put back together again, but partitioning it now would be to invite ethnic cleansing.
Asia
Saudis Not into Syria Just Because They Hate Assad
Saudi rulers are seeking in war a social glue they cannot find elsewhere to hold their subjects together.
Turkey Blames Syrian Kurds, Russia for Ankara Bombing
Turkey accuses a Syrian rebel group for the attacks in its capital and holds Russia responsible as well.
Leaders Seek to Uphold Rules-Based Order in Asia
American and ASEAN leaders support a rules-based order. China deploys missiles.
Russia Makes Syrian Puzzle Even More Complicated
By backing the Kurds in Syria, Russia is driving a wedge between Turkey and its NATO allies.
Syria Truce Gives Regime Time to Besiege Aleppo
World powers agree that the fighting in Syria must stop — but not for another week.
Why the Middle East Never Went Secular
Or it did, but then switched back to religion again when the ideologies it had imported from Europe failed.
Assad’s Forces Close In on Aleppo for Decisive Battle
Reclaiming the city for the regime would go a long way toward stamping out Syria’s non-Islamic State opposition.
The Arab Spring In Review
For better or worse, the uprisings made clear Arabs do in fact rule themselves. Are they up to the task?
“Era of Sykes-Picot is Over”: Kurdish Leader
Iraq and Syria cannot be put back together again.
What Oil Prices Mean for Geopolitics
Chaos may be in store if oil-dependent countries lash out to distract from failed economic policies.
West Lifts Sanctions as Iran Complies with Nuclear Deal
Iran’s compliance prompts European countries and the United States to lift sanctions on its economy.
Russia Helps Assad Reconquer Syria’s Heartland
Russian airstrikes are enabling the regime to retake territory from Syria’s least fanatical rebels.
Saudi Arabia Versus Iran: The Deeper Story
Saudi Arabia is stepping up its rivalry with Iran at a when the Americans are disengaging.
Arab States Cut Diplomatic Ties with Iran
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia expel Iran’s diplomats, escalating the standoff across the Persian Gulf.