William S. Lind, writing for The American Conservative, argues that NATO's proper role in Libya should not be to protect civilians or democracy but to preserve the Libyan state.  Lind argues that because NATO's campaign relies solely on air power without "high quality ground forces," it is unlikely to ensure victory for rebel forces on the ground.  If the rebels cannot replace Muammar Gadhafi; Gadhafi may be the only answer ...

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs held a hearing entitled “Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran.”  Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA) chaired the committee hearing, Senators James Risch (R-ID), Tom Udal (D-NM) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) were also present. Assistant Secretary of State Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael H. Posner; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State ...

In remarks made with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her alarm at the situation in Syria and called for an immediate end to the use of violence stating that "we have to show the Syrian Government that there are consequences for this brutal crackdown that has been imposed on the Syrian people."  Minister Frattini also called for an end to the violence and for ...

French President Nicholas Sarkozy told L'Express (French) that if peace negotiations are still stalled by September, "France will assume its responsibilities on the central question of recognizing the Palestinian state." The Palestinian Authority intends to seek a vote for statehood before the United Nations General Assembly in September. Sarkozy added that the "idea that we have time is a dangerous one." He also called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ...

Following the final signing of a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement yesterday many international leaders and negotiators weighed in. Benjamin Netanyahu announced in London: "What happened today in Cairo is a tremendous blow to peace and a great victory for terrorism."  Ha'aretz reports that leaked Israeli Foreign Ministry documents state that the agreement could offer Israel a "strategic opportunity", which is in stark contrast to statements coming from Israel's leadership.  Quartet Representative Tony Blair announced that ...

A Bahraini military court sentenced to death four protesters over the killing of two police officers during pro-democracy protests. Three others sentenced to life in prison in a closed-door trial. The defendants were denied communication to family and friends and had little legal counsel. While the BBC conveys reports that the defendants plead guilty, Al Jazeera quotes the defendants' lawyers as denying the charges. The seven convicted for the March ...

About 200 officials from Syria's ruling Arab Socialist Baath Party have resigned in protest of the regime's violent repression of the country's protests. The defections were primarily from low-ranking officials from the Deraa area, and follows the resignation of some 30 officials in the city of Baniyas. At the United Nations, a Security Council draft resolution was condemning the crackdown was voted down by several members. Russia argued that ...

In the wake of the siege on Deraa, the Arab League has expressed concern over the situation in Syria. Referring to the escalated protests and repression thereof as a "serious dilemma," the reaction falls short of the mounting condemnation from the UN and Western nations. The Arab League added that regimes should not resist such "historic" movements. Conversely, the regional organization has postponed its May meeting due to criticisms by ...

In addition to the White House's condemnation on Friday of the Syrian government's violent repression of protests, the US has voiced support for freezing regime assets abroad, has openly opposed Syria's election to the UN Human Rights Council--it was previously considered an shoo-in for an allotted Asia seat, and is reported to support a UN Security Council draft resolution by the United Kingdom, France and Germany condemning the Syrian government's ...

On Monday, the crackdown in Syria escalated as the Syrian army sent tanks to Dera'a and arrested scores of protesters, killing five in the process.  Nearly 350 people have died since protests began five weeks ago.  According to Jordanian officials, phone lines have been cut in the area and the Syria-Jordan border crossing near Dera'a has been sealed on the Syrian side.  Syrian security forces also arrested dozens of Syrians ...