Serbia

In coronavirus pandemic, China defies international law in the South China Sea–Part I

ENGLISH AND FRENCH Three recent articles describe China’s recent actions in the South China Sea, which appear to violate international law and an authoritative and…

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The fruits of pacifist foreign policies: Aggression in Ukraine, atrocities in Syria; Merkel’s fact-finding mission—a last chance to avert disaster?



Moral cowardice in Europe and elsewhere: Bad-faith arguments on Syria by Germany and other countries lacking the courage to act


New strategy and accompanying military action needed in Syria; Justification under International Law

President Barack Obama’s strategy for dealing with Syria has demonstrably failed. That strategy consisted mainly in looking the other way, providing fitful and ineffectual covert…


Susan Rice and Samantha Power: Can they change Obama’s thinking on Syria? (updated)

For a particularly penetrating analysis of the backgrounds of Susan Rice and Samantha Power, and the chances that they might be able to change Obama’s…


International human rights in retreat, as Iran, al-Assad, Hezbollah, and Russia gain the upper hand

It has been a hard couple of years for advocates of international human rights, and respect for international law of which they form a part….



REPRISE: The U.N. Charter, International Law, and Legal Justifications for Military Intervention in Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #90 (December 12, 2012)

This article was first published on September 1, 2012 The situation in Syria (is) unfolding “in front of our eyes”, with the regime deploying fighter…


Syria as “the tinderbox of the Middle East”; Security Council press statement condemns Syria for shelling Turkish town—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #87 (October 5)

The U.N. Security Council issued a presidential statement on October 4 condemning the shelling of a Turkish town by Syrian forces. The statement has no…


REPRISE: Responding to Atrocities in Syria: It’s Not Just About Al-Assad, It’s About Us—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #86 (September 18)

Responding to Atrocities in Syria: It’s Not Just About Al-Assad, It’s About Us Originally published March 6, 2012 I heard a boy in Syria on…


The U.N. Charter, International Law, and Legal Justifications for Military Intervention in Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #83 (September 1)

The situation in Syria (is) unfolding “in front of our eyes”, with the regime deploying fighter jets against the people, in addition to heavy artillery…


Draft Security Council Resolution S/2012/538 vetoed by Russia and China (text of resolution and video link)—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #66 (July 19)

Draft Resolution S/2012/538 on Syria, sponsored by France, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States, was put to a vote this morning in…


New massacre, some 140 killed in Syria; U.N. General Assembly meeting, Security Council consultations on Thursday—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #49 (June 7)

The BBC reports, Syrian pro-government forces have killed at least 86 people in Hama province, many of them women and children, activists say (emphasis added)….


Security Council Press Statement on Houla massacre: Empty words, without significance—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #46 (May 28)

See UN News Centre, “Security Council strongly condemns massacre of civilians in Syria,” May 27, 2012. The text of the Security Council Press Statement of…