Charles Lister | Foreign Policy

Charles Lister is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and a senior consultant to The Shaikh Group’s Track II Syria Dialogue Initiative. Follow him on Twitter at: @Charles_Lister.

Argument

Al Qaeda Is Starting to Swallow the Syrian Opposition

On the sixth anniversary of the Syrian uprising, moderate rebels have never been weaker — and jihadis have never been stronger.

Charles Lister
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Argument

Trump’s Syria Strategy Would Be a Disaster

The president-elect wants to ally with Assad and Russia to fight the Islamic State – but he’s going to end up empowering extremists and causing chaos across the Middle East.

Charles Lister
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Argument

Obama’s Syria Strategy Is the Definition of Insanity

Another ceasefire is in tatters. But America keeps reaching out to Russia while expecting a different result.

Charles Lister
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Argument

The Nusra Front Is Dead and Stronger Than Ever Before

The Islamic State’s main rival has just broken ties with al Qaeda, but don't expect it to moderate its jihadi goals. It's actually laying a trap for the United States.

Charles Lister
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Argument

Al Qaeda Is About to Establish an Emirate in Northern Syria

After years on the back foot, the Nusra Front is laying the groundwork for al Qaeda’s first sovereign state.

Charles Lister
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Argument

Why Assad Is Losing

Syria's rebels are making sweeping gains, as foreign powers up support and work with Islamist fighters. But the regime isn't about to go down without a fight.

Charles Lister
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The Middle East Channel

Syria’s New Rebel Front

A new and dangerous front appears to have opened in Syria. Since early January 3, members of three militant fronts -- the largely nationalist Syrian ...

Charles Lister
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The Middle East Channel

The Next Phase of the Syrian Conflict

U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford confirmed on Wednesday what many had predicted, that Syria's Islamic Front (IF) had refused to hold meetings with representatives ...

Charles Lister
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The Middle East Channel

Syria’s multipolar war

Notwithstanding some speculation, Syria has become an intensely complex conflict. Militarily, the opposition currently consists of more than 1,000 armed opposition groups as well as ...