For how many years were you sentenced? Recalling his burdens, he answered, “for five years!” With a smile of children, I added, “they succeeded; I mean your years of detention and they are equal to the years I spent at the toilet of the prison.”   It was a...

At the exact t ime every year, Adnan Qasar is taken out from his dormitory at Tadmur Prison to get crushed and tortured under the boots. Then he is left out like a body remains. He did not know why his imprisoners chose this exact time. It took him more than five years to learn from...

Along with no-fly zone plans, the White House is considering arming parts of the Syrian opposition and formally recognizing the Syrian opposition council, reports Josh Rogin. The White House has asked the Pentagon to draw up plans for a no-fly zone inside Syria that would be enforced by...

This piece is part of " Obama and the Middle East: Act Two ," a series of policy proposals for the president's second term by Washington Institute fellows. The Assad regime's brutal suppression of the Syrian uprising has spurred a humanitarian disaster, with the United Nations now...