Strategic Assessment of the War on Syria in Fall 2018: Idlib & The Northeast

Strategic Assessment of the War on Syria in Fall 2018: Idlib & The Northeast

The onset of three major developments next month will change the entire dynamic of the War on Syria, meaning that the country’s decision makers must urgently assess the true state of strategic affairs as they presently stand, forecast the most probable scenarios that will unfold across the coming months, and seriously consider which policies could…

The Daesh Hostage Drama Is Damascus’ Last Chance to Liberate the Northeast

The Daesh Hostage Drama Is Damascus’ Last Chance to Liberate the Northeast

Daesh’s takeover of a refugee camp in the US-controlled part of Syria is the last possible chance that Damascus has to liberate the northeast, but even attempting to do so is a serious gamble that might not even be undertaken because of its astronomically high strategic risks. Daesh unexpectedly came back from what most of…

Russia Winks at Turkey by Recognizing the Turkoman Community in Syria

Russia Winks at Turkey by Recognizing the Turkoman Community in Syria

Russia’s acknowledgement of the Turkoman community in northern Syria and its victimization by US-backed Kurdish forces is an important milestone that hints at how the tense situation in that part of the country might be resolved through Moscow’s diplomatic mediation in the future. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a strong statement…

President Assad’s Amnesty Decree Is Helpful, But Not Everyone Will Follow It

President Assad’s Amnesty Decree Is Helpful, But Not Everyone Will Follow It

The world should welcome President Assad’s latest decree granting amnesty to military deserters inside and outside of the country, but observers shouldn’t forget that it isn’t a new initiative and might therefore not be observed by the parties that matter most because they ignored his government’s identical outreaches over the past couple of years. Europe’s…

Trump’s “Mr. Kurd” Quip was Followed by a Major Strategic Insinuation

Trump’s “Mr. Kurd” Quip was Followed by a Major Strategic Insinuation

Many in the media are talking about how Trump referred to a Kurdish journalist as “Mr. Kurd”, but they’re missing the major strategic insinuation that he made when responding to his question. The latest “viral” video circulating about Trump is how he referred to a Kurdish journalist as “Mr. Kurd” when calling upon him during…