Time's correspondent in Syria writes that recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Assad and his regime have done little to stop him from using violence against the Syrian people.

Elliott Abrams says that while President Obama had some fine language in his speech on the Middle East, his points on the Arab Spring and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were wrong.

CFR Senior Fellow Steven Cook and Foundation for Defense Democracies Research Fellow Tony Badran discuss the increasing violence and political change sweeping the region with Foreign Affairs Editor Gideon Rose. Cook and Badran have authored articles in the recently released eBook New Arab Revolt, published by CFR and Foreign Affairs.

Anthony Shadid of the New York Times offers a picture of what life may be like for Israel if pressure continues on Bashar al-Assad to step down.

In Foreign Policy, Aaron David Miller argues that the Obama Administration belives Syria's repressive dictatorship is so crucial to Mideast peace and stability that the United States can't let it fail.

Anne-Marie Slaughter, Former Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department discusses the actions taken by international actors in Libya, and why the same measures cannot be taken in Syria. Slaughter called the situation in Syria "heartbreaking" and said "it looks like in many ways it looks like this government might get away with the same kind of brutality that we saw 20 years ago." However, she argued that while the U.S. is doing everything in its power diplomatically, it is not in a position to use force in Syria.

Elliott Abrams says that as the Assad regime kills more peaceful demonstrators, U.S. policy in Syria becomes increasingly difficult to comprehend.

President Assad's brutal attack on Syrian protestors, and a lack of support for protestors from Syria's army and business class, make it likely that the regime will survive even if it becomes increasingly isolated from the West, says Syria expert Mona Yacoubian.

Steven A. Cook says fear of the transforming political landscape is bringing together strange bedfellows in the Middle East.

Mohamad Bazzi discusses Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown in response to protests.

Elliott Abrams says that the United States needs to step up actions against Syria's repressive regime.

Analysts assumed that the administration of the Western educated Bashar Assad would lead to a reformed and modernized Syria. Assad's actions reveal that this optimism was simply wishful thinking.

CFR's Adjunct Senior Fellow For Middle Eastern Studies, Mohamad Bazzi discusses the current crisis in Syria and its possible consequences.

Listen to CFR Expert Mohamad Bazzi and Consulting Editor Bernard Gwertzman discuss violent anti-government protests and rising tensions in Syria.

Elliott Abrams says the Obama administration must move beyond expressing concern for the situation in Syria and make a determined drive to bring down the Asad regime.

Mohamad Bazzi says President Bashar al Assad's resistance to serious concessions will not work over the long term for Syria.

Syria's Ba'athist regime has responded to widening pro-reform protests by tightening its crackdown, but this approach is unlikely to quiet restive Syrians like it has in the past, writes CFR's Mohamad Bazzi.

Richard N. Haass examines the likelihood of political change in Syria.

Syria's unrest isn't widespread enough to lead to a government ouster, with the Assad regime enjoying solid support from the country's Alawite leadership and Sunni majority, says expert Joshua Landis.

Steven A. Cook warns that as violence worsens in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria, dreams of a democratic Middle East may be more of a nightmare in the short run.