Publication

This paper discusses US foreign policy with regard to the Syrian crisis. Syria remains mired in political confrontation and violence, and is perched on the edge of civil war. US officials and many analysts believe that President Bashar al Asad, his family members, and his supporters will ultimately be forced from power, but few observers offer specific, credible timetables for a resolution to Syria's ongoing political crisis. President Obama and his Administration have been calling for Asad's resignation since August 2011, and have been vocal advocates for UN Security Council action to condemn the Syrian government and end the bloodshed. The potential spillover effects of continued fighting raise questions with regard to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel.