Syria’s Descent Into Hell -- John McCain, Joseph I. Lieberman and Lindsey O. Graham, Washington Post
As 2012 draws to a close, Syria is descending into hell. At least 40,000 people, and likely many more, have been killed, while millions have been forced to flee their homes. Over the past 12 months, Bashar al-Assad has steadily unleashed ever-greater military firepower in response to what began as peaceful protests by the Syrian people. Starting with tanks and heavy artillery in February, the Syrian regime escalated over the summer to using attack helicopters and fighter jets. In recent weeks, it has begun firing Scud missiles at its own population.
The world has failed to stop this slaughter. President Obama has declared that his “red line” is Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Many Syrians, however, have told us that they see the U.S. red line as a green light for Assad to use all other weapons of war to massacre them with impunity. Many of those weapons continue to be supplied directly by Iran.
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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials
Syria: There is no 'noble war' that will justify this bloodshed -- Charles Glass, The National
Will America Seize the Moment on Iran? -- Robert Dreyfus, The Diplomat
Happy new year, Cairo? -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor
Egypt faces the real test as pound falls -- The National editorial
No Easy Answers in Mali -- New York Times editorial
Opinionline: Will rape protests change India? -- USA Today
The word on Chinese princelings -- Isaac Stone Fish, Foreign Policy
China's New Hatchet Man -- David Ignatius, Real Clear Politics
Japan's New Stimulus: The Race With China To The Bottom -- Gordan G. Chang, Forbes
Analysis: Venezuela's Maduro channels Chavez, lacks his charisma -- Daniel Wallis and Brian Ellswort, Reuters
After Chávez, Who? -- Boris Muñoz, The New Yorker
What we can learn from Mexico -- CNN
Killers target diplomats worldwide -- Ben Barber, McClatchy Newspapers
Peering into a Multipolar World in 2030 -- Couloumbis, Ahlstrom & Weaver, Real Clear World