Joshua Landis
Joshua Landis is Sandra Mackey Chair and Professor at the University of Oklahoma’s College of International Studies. He is also Director of the Center for Middle East Studies.He writes and manages “SyriaComment.com,” a newsletter on Syrian politics that attracts some 100,000 page-reads a month.
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U.S. withdrawal from Syria will help jumpstart the Syrian economy, reduce tensions with our key allies in the region, and alleviate the refugee problem that is overwhelming Europe.
Turkey’s overtures to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s readmission to the Arab League, the election of Iranian reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, and the never-ending war in Gaza all point to the need for the U.S. to recalibrate its Syria policy. Washington must come to terms with the fact that the entire region is normalizing relations with Damascus and Assad.
Certainly, the revolutionary process that began to sweep the Middle East a year ago is powerful; most Syrians want change, and many are willing to fight for freedom and dignity. All the same, predictions of its rapid demise may be wishful thinking.
Four elements are important in assessing the regime's chances of surviving to 2013: the regime's strengths, the opposition's weaknesses, the chances of foreign intervention, and the impact of sanctions and economic decline.
• Help negotiate a better deal for the Kurds within Syria in a way that ensures their safety and future while also assuaging Turkey’s concerns
• Retain Turkey within its orbit rather than losing it to Russian influence
• Positioning itself as a mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia rather than going all-in on one side
• Promoting the recovery and rebuilding of the region, not keeping it broken and poor
U.S. withdrawal from Syria will help jumpstart the Syrian economy, reduce tensions with our key allies in the region, and alleviate the refugee problem that is overwhelming Europe.
Turkey’s overtures to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s readmission to the Arab League, the election of Iranian reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, and the never-ending war in Gaza all point to the need for the U.S. to recalibrate its Syria policy. Washington must come to terms with the fact that the entire region is normalizing relations with Damascus and Assad.
Certainly, the revolutionary process that began to sweep the Middle East a year ago is powerful; most Syrians want change, and many are willing to fight for freedom and dignity. All the same, predictions of its rapid demise may be wishful thinking.
Four elements are important in assessing the regime's chances of surviving to 2013: the regime's strengths, the opposition's weaknesses, the chances of foreign intervention, and the impact of sanctions and economic decline.
• Help negotiate a better deal for the Kurds within Syria in a way that ensures their safety and future while also assuaging Turkey’s concerns
• Retain Turkey within its orbit rather than losing it to Russian influence
• Positioning itself as a mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia rather than going all-in on one side
• Promoting the recovery and rebuilding of the region, not keeping it broken and poor