Syrian National Coalition

From The Whiteboard 25 June 2013 Syrian National Coalition For Reference > Syrian National Coalition The Syrian National Coalition is the political authority and umbrella organization of Official Site the Syrian rebels recognized by the majority of the Arab League as the legitimate Syrian authority. Led by George Sabra, a Greek Orthodox Christian, the Coalition > Guide to the Syrian Oppo- was formed after the failure of the Syrian National Council, based in Turkey, to unite sition disparate opposition elements into an effective political bloc. The two merged in November 2012 and have achieved some gains in increased international legitimacy > Syrian National Coalition and in remaining loosely tethered to fighters on the battlefield. Facebook Page The moderate wing of the Syrian rebels, under command of defected former-Syrian > Syrian Opposition to Sit General Salim Idris, is the Free Syrian Army, the largest of the organizations that Out Any Talks Unless Arms pledge allegiance to the Coalition. Idris is widely seen as the chief recipient of US Are Sent, General Says military aid and as the most acceptable military commander to Western powers, who have worked to keep him allied with the Coalition and pressed for increased representation for his fighters. Currently, with fifteen representatives, the Free Syrian Army is the key military link between the Coalition's political activities and the civil war unfolding inside Syria's borders. ISOA Perspective As stated previously, ISOA members are prepared to support any international operation to be implemented in re- sponse to policy decisions of the international community. Our membership can provide base support for UN or multinational troops deploying in the field, infrastructure support including water sanitation and construction, or training services tailored toward rule of law or security sector development. With effective train-the-trainer pro- grams and operational support, ISOA members bring expertise to the field that can support the efforts of the Syrian National Coalition if they transition into the governing body of a peaceful Syria. Visit The Whiteboard at www.stability-operations.org/Whiteboard 2025 M ST NW SUITE 800 | WASHINGTON, DC 20036 | +1 202 367 1153 | WWW.STABILITY-OPERATIONS.ORG .

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The Syrian National Council: a Victorious Opposition?
THE INSTITUTE FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES IMES CAPSTONE PAPER SERIES THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL: A VICTORIOUS OPPOSITION? JARED MARKLAND KRITTIKA LALWANEY MAY 2012 THE INSTITUTE FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES THE ELLIOTT SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COPYRIGHT OF THE AUTHOR(S), 2012 THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL: A VICTORIOUS OPPOSITION? Jared Markland & Krittika Lalwaney Introduction The Syrian National Council (SNC) emerged as an opposition movement representing the democratic uprisings in Syria calling for regime change. The Assad regime’s forceful measures against Syrians have delegitimized the government and empowered the revolution. The success of the revolution, in overthrowing the regime hinges on the Syrian opposition’s ability to overcome its deficiencies. This paper analyzes the performance of the SNC by determining SNC success or failure to launch a successful opposition movement against the regime. The SNC’s probability of success in the overthrow of the regime is contingent on its ability to unify internally, obtain financial capacity, establish international recognition, and build internal popular support. Methodology The methods used to examine the prospects for success of the SNC as a viable opposition movement consist of comparative case studies and qualitative field research. We examined four case studies, including Nicaragua, Libya, El Salvador and Guatemala. These cases establish a set of core factors necessary for an opposition movement to succeed. The utilization of these factors allows us to create a comparative assessment of the overall performance of the SNC. Our qualitative fieldwork entailed a total of 32 interviews with current SNC members, Syrian activists, refugees, Free Syrian Army members, academic experts, and government officials.
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The Political Direction of Which Ariel Sharon's Disengagement Plan Forms a Part Is the Most Significant Development in Israe
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PRISM Syrian Supplemental
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The Islamic Front by Aaron Y
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The Free Syrian Army Vs. the Syrian National Council -- Which Should We Support? by David Schenker
MENU Policy Analysis / Articles & Op-Eds The Free Syrian Army vs. the Syrian National Council -- Which Should We Support? by David Schenker Apr 2, 2012 ABOUT THE AUTHORS David Schenker David Schenker is the Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Articles & Testimony year into the Syrian uprising against Bashar Al-Assad, the dysfunctional nature of Syrian opposition politics A isn't exactly news. But the resignation last month of Syrian dissident Kamal Labwani from the Syrian National Council (SNC) -- which he accused not only of being "undemocratic" and incompetent, but intent on undermining the secular basis of the revolution -- is an especially troubling indictment of the opposition's hapless government in exile. The Obama administration should heed Labwani's testimony, and reassess its diplomacy accordingly. Indeed, taking a cue from Labwani's experience, Washington should refocus its attention away from the SNC, in favor of providing more active support for the less centralized, but potentially more effective Free Syrian Army (FSA). I can personally attest to the depth of Labwani's commitment to a free Syria. I first met him in 2005, when he was in Washington for meetings with Bush administration officials. During a meeting at the Pentagon that I attended, Labwani, a medical doctor who was a prominent member of the "Damascus Spring" reform movement in 2001, did not ask for U.S. assistance in toppling Syria's Assad regime. Instead, he spoke eloquently about the need for political reform in his country. When I asked him whether he feared being jailed on his return, he said he knew he would be arrested, but nonetheless believed it was important for U.S.
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