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Barack Obama, Czechoslovakia, Deutschland, France, Germany, History, International Law, Russia, sanctions, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Congress, Ukraine, United States, use of force February 28, 2014

UKRAINE: Russia military intervention underway in Crimea, in flagrant violation of international law

Developing Background “Ukraine: Russian military interventiom underway or likely, as Putin follows Hitler’s playbook in the Crimea,” The Trenchant Observer, February 27, 2014. “U.S. should…

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Barack Obama, Chemical weapons, China, Crimes Against Humanity, human rights, International Law, Russia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, United States, use of force, war crimes September 18, 2013

Details in U.N. inspectors’ report on chemical weapons massacre at Ghouta point ineluctably to al-Assad (with link to report); more commentary

Developing–check back for updates The text of the UN Chemical Weapons Inspectors’ Report is found below (with link). United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of…

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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…

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Barack Obama, China, International Law, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, NATO, Russia, self-defense, Serbia, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Military, United States, use of force October 5, 2012

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…

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Next steps in Syria: End UNSMIS observer mission, and send Kofi Annan home. Also, begin prosecutions of war criminals, and prepare for possible military action—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #60 (July 10)

Latest News and Opinion Editorial, “Annan’s failure” (Kofi Annan’s return to Damascus Sunday evening adds insult to injury after his admission over the weekend that…

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After G-8 “agreement on Syria”, the fighting continues—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #41 (May 23) REVISED

G-8 Camp David Final Communique: Statement on Syria 1. We, the Leaders of the Group of Eight, met at Camp David on May 18 and…

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"that spark of the divine", Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, extrajudicial execution, France, History, human rights, International Law, Libya, Middle East, NATO, religious belief, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, State Department, State Department Human Rights Country Reports, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted killings, Torture, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes April 25, 2012

Syrian forces carry out revenge attacks and targeted reprisals against those meeting with U.N. observers—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #30 (April 25)

Latest News and Opinion Chilling details of reprisals by Syrian forces against those who spoke to U.N. observers are provided by Ulrike Putz, reporting for…

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With al-Assad defiant, freeze on UNSMIS, military action required—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Upadate #29 (April 24)

In view of Bashar al-Assad’s (entirely foreseeable) refusal to comply with the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2042 (April 14, 2012) and Resolution 2043 (April…

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Putin’s victory: Another Security Council “presidential statement”, and ferocious attacks on the ground—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #23 (April 7)

The 6-point Kofi Annan peace plan contained in the March 21, 2012 Security Council “Presidential Statement” is fatally flawed. The plan by its design meets…

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Barack Obama, China, corruption, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, elections, extrajudicial execution, History, human rights, Intelligence, internal supporters of human rights, International Law, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, NATO, Nuclear Proliferation, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, self-defense, State Department, State Department Human Rights Country Reports, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S Foreign Relations, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United States, vision of peace, war crimes March 30, 2012

Into the Abyss: Washington’s Fecklessness, Syria’s Fate—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #20 (March 30)

Latest News Reports and Opinion Reuters reports from Beirut, (Reuters) – Syrian artillery hit parts of Homs city and at least 37 people were killed…

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Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, elections, History, human rights, International Law, Lebanon, Russia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted assassinations, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes March 29, 2012

“The emperor has no clothes”: Foreign policy without a moral core—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #19 (March 29)

Latest News and Opinion on Syria Dominic Evans (Beirut), “Assad says foreign aid to rebels must stop under peace plan,” Reuters, March 29, 2012 (8:54…