Russian President Putin, mistrustful of Western motives, is likely to resist pressure to commit to stronger sanctions against Syria's government, says expert Dimitri Simes.

Richard N. Haass says, "Intervention in Syria need not be defined as either armed intervention or intervention with arms. There is much more that the world can and should be doing to bring about the removal of the Assad regime."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave these remarks at the July 6, 2012 Friends of the Syrian People Ministerial meeting in Paris, France.

The West may no longer be the main target for terrorist organizations; turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa has given rise to an increased number of more locally-focused attacks in the last year.

Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan gave these remarks at the meeting of the Action Group on Syria in Geneva, Switzerland on June 30, 2012.

The UN-backed Action Group for Syria released this communiqué on June 30, 2012.

Secretary of State Clinton gave this press conference following the meeting of the Action Group on Syria, on June 30, 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

UN Security Council Resolution 2052 regarding extension of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) monitoring the Israel-Syria ceasefire until December 31, 2012 was adopted by the UN Security Council on June 27, 2012.

Ed Husain argues, "Russia should see that unless Assad gives way, the opposition will become more radicalized and increasingly jihadi."

Max Boot argues that Russian assistance to Syria means it's time for the United States to change its policy.

Leslie H. Gelb discusses the elections in Egypt and why the United States can't predict, let alone control, events in the Mideast.

He was an unpromising youth who gained power by accident. Today he's the Arab world's most notorious dictator. But who really is this man? The Financial Times' Roula Khalaf profiles Bashar al-Assad.

The White House press secretary issued this statement on Syria on June 7, 2012.

Julia E. Sweig dissects the international quandary over the humanitarian implications of violence in Syria.

Max Boot says that the United States should consider tougher actions against the Syrian government.

The conflict in Syria is less about democratic reforms and more about redistributing power along sectarian and ethnic lines--with troubling regional implications, says expert Vali Nasr.

Elliott Abrams says that tension between the United States and Israel--and the State Department's comment that Russia's approval is needed for military action in Syria--provide little hope that President Obama will take action against the Assad regime.

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the UN, gave these remarks regarding Syria on May 30, 2012.

The weekend massacre near Houla that has galvanized international outrage may spark a stronger Russian stand against the Assad regime, says Syria expert Mona Yacoubian.