Fragmentation and disorganization have plagued Syria’s opposition since peaceful protestors began forming rebel groups under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army, Elizabeth O’Bagy writes in a new report. But the Supreme Military Command has enhanced coordination and with …
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Free Syrian Army still a force for de-radicalization and democracy
March 27, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Democratic transitions, Dictatorships, Failed states, Governance, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, Opposition movements, Syria
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Rebuff of missile request aids Assad, says Syrian opposition leader
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“The refusal of international powers to provide Patriot missile support for rebel-held areas of northern Syria sends a message to President Bashar al-Assad to ‘do what you want’, Syrian opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib said” today, Reuters reports:
Alkhatib, a …
March 25, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Democratic transitions, Dissidents, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, Muslim Brotherhood, Opposition movements, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria
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Syrian opposition ‘on verge of disintegrating’ as Islamists gain
Syrian opposition figure Moaz Alkhatib (above, center) will address an Arab League meeting in Doha this week, despite announcing his resignation as head of the Syrian National Coalition, Reuters reports.
“The coalition is on verge of disintegrating,” said Amr …
March 22, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Islamist groups, National Endowment for Democracy, Opposition movements, Syria
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Syrian opposition’s ‘significant inroads’ against regime prompts fresh calls for Western aid
“The Sunni-led opposition appears in recent days to have made significant inroads against the government, threatening the Assad family’s dynastic rule of 40 years and its long alliance with Iran,” writes Neil MacFarquhar for the New York Times: …
March 14, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Democratic transitions, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, Muslim Brotherhood, Syria
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How the Muslim Brotherhood ‘hijacked’ Syria’s revolt
“Most importantly, the Brotherhood has successfully opposed attempts to outline how the transitional period will be managed — an ambiguity the group no doubt hopes it will be able to exploit to seize a leadership role after Assad’s fall,” he …
February 28, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Civil Society, Democratic transitions, Governance, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Syria, Transitional justice
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Beyond Assad: Building a New Syria from the Grassroots
Under exceptionally harsh conditions, various civilian actors are striving to create the foundations of a post-Assad Syria. Their work encompasses civil society, local governance and service provision, and humanitarian relief efforts.
As the second anniversary of Syria’s uprising approaches, …
February 28, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Democracy Assistance, Democracy Promotion, Dictatorships, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Rule of Law, Syria, Transitional justice
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$60 million ‘nothing burger’ in aid unlikely to boost Syrian moderates
The United States today pledged a further $60 million in aid to Syrian opposition forces, including food and medical supplies directly to armed rebels for the first time but rejected demands for weapons.
The additional assistance would help “the legitimate …
February 7, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Syria
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Pentagon backed selectively arming Syria’s opposition
The Pentagon supported a joint State Department-CIA proposal to provide lethal assistance and training to the Syrian opposition, the Joint Chiefs chairman testified today.
His testimony coincided with a call from a gathering of Muslim Nations for …
February 6, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Democracy Assistance, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, News, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria
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US won’t use aid to bolster Syrian opposition moderates
“The State Department and USAID are increasing their humanitarian aid for Syria but have no intention of moving any of that money through the Syrian opposition coalition, as several senators have called for,” The Cable’s Josh Rogin reports:
U.S. …
February 4, 2013
in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Dissidents, Failed states, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Qatar, Syria, Transitional justice
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As conflict reaches inflection point, is US ‘empowering Syria’s Ahmad Chalabis’?
Syrian opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib today urged President Bashar al-Assad to enter a dialogue to end the violent conflict and help “the regime leave peacefully,” Reuters reports:
The moderate Islamist preacher announced last week he was prepared to talk …