Elliott Abrams says that civil war in Syria can be avoided if the "Assad mafia" can be separated from much of its own sectarian support.

A potential civil war in Syria, a broken state in Libya, and Egypt's transition of power loom as chief Mideast challenges for Washington. CFR's Robert Danin reviews the path for U.S. planners.

Max Boot says recognizing the provisional government is important progress in Lybia, but it's time to deal with the Gadhafi regime.

The Obama administration's recognition of the Libya's National Transitional Council as the country's legitimate government means freeing up funds for the group but also poses legal questions the State Department has to resolve.

The International Criminal Court's warrants for the arrest of Libya's Qaddafi stir debate about whether they will facilitate or hinder his demise and about the effectiveness of the ICC itself.

NATO's success in Libya shows how important and effective the alliance remains, writes its secretary-general.

A debate over presidential war powers has refocused attention on the scope and purpose of the U.S. military role in Libya and what it means for policy toward other brutal Arab regimes.

Matthew C. Waxman discusses the lawsuit challenging U.S. participation in the Libyan military mission.

Daniel L. Byman and Matthew Waxman discuss six reasons why it's been so tough to get Muammar al-Qaddafi to quit.

Mohamad Bazzi discusses Muammar el-Qaddafi's "Green Book."

James M. Lindsay outlines steps the Obama administration could take in Libya that do not involve sending in U.S. combat troops.

New York Times columnist David Sanger explains the Obama Administration's mixed approach to unrest in the Arab world through the lens of 'half a doctrine'.

James M. Lindsay argues that an indictment of Moammar Gadhafi by the International Criminal Court could actually make it harder to bring Libya's civil war to a quick end.

Even those who opposed the Libyan entanglement would agree that the west must see this through to an acceptable conclusion. The honour and credibility of the west are now engaged here, writes Max Hastings of the Financial Times.

Gal Beckerman of The New Republic wonders if  Obama's U.N. ambassador, Susan Rice, is a true hawk, or simply more pragmatic than we think.

In this New York Times Op-Ed, Mahmoud Gebril Elwarfally argues that the Libyan opposition needs financial support and diplomatic recognition to defeat Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.