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Robert Fisk, The Independent | February 2, 2012 Bashar al-Assad is hanging onto power in Syria despite a gradually developing civil war. ++ The current turmoil is the most precarious moment in Syria’s post-independence history. ++  No matter how much condemnation and bloodshed, the Assad regime is likely to continue fighting, even alone if need be. ++ While his time might be numbered and everyone ...More

Andrew Sniderman & Mark Hanis, Genocide Intervention | Feb. 1, 2012 It is time to use drones to benefit human rights advocacy. ++ Drones could replace the Arab League observers who suspended their operations in Syria last week. ++ The evidence could be broadcast to prosecutors at the International Criminal Court. ++ An environmental group uses drones to monitor illegal Japanese whaling. ++ Whilst violating national airspace may ...More

Micheál Martin TD, Fianna Fáil Party | January 31, 2012 Fiscal controls were not the cause of the Eurozone crisis and strengthening them will not solve it. ++ The debate over the crisis has been the worst of any Europe-related treaty, the current draft merely delays change for five years. ++ The "shut up and sign" approach is betraying the spirit of the union and Ireland needs to signal that it will not tolerate ...More

Editorial, Haaretz | January 30, 2012 President Netanyahu has turned the Iranian threat into a convenient distraction away from Israel's settlement policy. ++ He has taken advantage of President Obama's preoccupation with the presidential elections. ++ Both Israel's center and left parties have now adopted a policy of unilateral disengagement from Palestinian issues. ++ The end of negotiations for ...More

Johnny West, Open Oil Consultancy | January 27, 2012 The impact of Western sanctions on Iran goes further than "market plays, fire sales and opportunism" for India and China. ++ The long term role Iran plays in their energy security policies has been missed. ++ Iran has sought to lock both countries into 25-year contracts for its oil. ++ Ideological positions may factor domestically in India and China but they ...More

Eduardo Levy-Yeyati & Luciano Cohan, Brookings | January 2012 Latin America recovered strongly from the financial crisis of 2008-9, but now the region is feeling the pains of financial stress and dwindling global demand. Nevertheless, the major economies (the LAC-7: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Uruguay) in the region are still expected to perform decently despite a sluggish global economy. In ...More

Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten joined Atlantic Community in 2010. He is Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Security and Conflict Programme and at Clingendael Asia Studies. In this interview Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten argues that Europeans should encourage the US to accept China’s equality, whereas the EU itself will not be capable of operating ...More

Dr. Patryk Pawlak is a Research Fellow at the EU Institute for Security Studies in Paris where he deals with EU-US relations and US domestic and foreign policies. He also deals with EU Justice and Home Affairs, with particular regard to its external dimension, border management and data protection. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the European ...More

Raja Kamal, Buck Institute | January 25, 2012 The US and Britain have just concluded weaponry deals to Saudi Arabia worth $53 billion. ++ These deals are a short term solution to ease their recession hit economies presented as an opportunity to promote stability in the Middle East. ++ The real dangers faced by Arab countries are domestic religious extremism and militant terrorism. ++ Allowing the ...More

Irwin Cotler, Former Attorney General of Canada | January 24, 2012 South Africa must resume its role as a mediator in Sudan. ++ Accelerating violence and the military seizure of Abyei by the Khartoum regime signal that war has restarted. ++ It is scandalous that three leading officials indicted for genocide, including President Omar al-Bashir, are still in office. ++ A targeted no-fly zone should be put in place in South ...More