Home pagePress CenterIn the Media Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, had an op-ed published in the Washington Post, "How to Manage Assad."
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Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, had an op-ed published in the Washington Post, "How to Manage Assad."
The Bush administration thinks Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is bluffing. Its policy of cutting off most contacts with the Syrian government and tightening the screws of sanctions is meant to signal that the United States has superior strength and a superior will. At some point, the reasoning goes, the Syrians will realize that resistance is futile, and they will give up the charade of virulent opposition to U.S. policy in the Middle East. But a visit to Damascus early this month that included an hour-long discussion with Assad left me unconvinced that his regime can be scared straight.
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