U.S. and SDF forces at al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria. Al-Tanf is one of the places where American troops are expected to remain despite the U.S. drawdown, though the scope and timeline for the withdrawal is still unclear. Photo Credit: Military Times By: Jodi Brignola, Columnist The Trump Administration’s stance on regime change is similar … Continue reading Regime Change and Counterterror in the Trump Era
Author: Jodi Brignola
Between a Rock and a Hardline Place: The Conundrum of Providing Humanitarian Aid to HTS-Controlled Idlib
UN aid convoy heads to Idlib province in October, 2018. Photo Credit: Andolu Agency By: Jodi Brignola, Columnist Humanitarian action is grounded in the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.[i] In theory, these principles seek to protect all civilians outside of a political framework. In practice, however, divorcing humanitarian aid from the geopolitical and … Continue reading Between a Rock and a Hardline Place: The Conundrum of Providing Humanitarian Aid to HTS-Controlled Idlib
The Fatal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Counterterrorism Strategy
A makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Oct. 29, 2018. Photo Credit: Matt Rourke / AP By: Jodi Brignola, Columnist The Trump administration released its new National Strategy for Counterterrorism (NSCT) last month, just before two major terrorist plots transpired – the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and a series of mail bombs sent to … Continue reading The Fatal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Counterterrorism Strategy
The Sochi Agreement: Theoretically Misguided in Concept and Implementation
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Sochi, Russia September 17, 2018. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS By: Jodi Brignola, Columnist On September 17, 2018, Russia and Turkey made a deal to stall, and potentially prevent a Syrian regime offensive against opposition-held areas … Continue reading The Sochi Agreement: Theoretically Misguided in Concept and Implementation