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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Is US-Russian Diplomacy Prolonging Syria's Civil War?

    When the US was threatening force against Syria, fighting by both the government and the rebels dropped off.  Now it's increasing again. And there's no guarantee that Bashar al-Assad will get rid of his chemical weapons according to the ambitious timetable set by the US and Russia. What if he doesn't?

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    When the US was threatening force against Syria, fighting by both the government and the rebels dropped off. Now it's increasing again. And there's no guarantee that Bashar al-Assad will get rid of his chemical weapons according to the ambitious timetable set by the US and Russia. What if he doesn't? Will the US attack then, despite Russia's opposition? If Assad does meet the deadlines, will that mean peace for the Syrian people? We look at these and other questions about a short-term lull in what's really a long-term crisis.

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      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

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      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

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      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

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      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

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      Page Fortna

      Columbia University

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      Nikolas Gvosdev

      US Naval War College / The National Interest

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      Stewart Patrick

      Council on Foreign Relations; author of “The Sovereignty Wars: Reconciling America with the World”

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