Portside

Most pundits are careful about not advocating for direct U.S. military intervention in Syria (that is left to the Republican politicians who appear on the Sunday shows). But their message boils down to a concern over the credibility of the president's threats of violence more important than the credibility of his evidence. The White House has been saying their reticence is informed by the Iraq debacle; many pundits don't seem to have learned a similar lesson.

With the Israeli army advancing into Syria following Assad's fall, a group promoting settlements in Lebanon is casting its gaze eastward.

Israel’s message is clear: regardless of who governs Syria, Israel will ensure it does not possess the basic military capacity to defend itself.

The overthrow of Syrian dictator Assad has brought Putin’s image as a provider of stability into question. “This is a sign of his weakness. And no matter how you look at it, it’s a personal defeat for him.”

As the world churns

Trump’s DNI pick and I were both in Damascus in the winter of 2017 to meet with the dictator of Syria. We came away with very different takes

Overviews and takeaways

Left takes on tech, and developments in Asia's Communist parties

News and analysis about and from movements and parties around the world