Examines the chemical and biological weapons that Syria is known to have and assesses the damage that could be done if the weapons were used by the government against the rebels or if they were passed to other groups.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Provides an overview of issues relating to Lebanon including the current civil war in Syria, and U.S. assistance to Lebanon.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Insights from a May 2012 conference on how reform of police and security organizations is a crucial step in building democracies.  From the United States Institute of Peace

This paper describes Syria’s sectarian and political history, and discusses the forces involved in the conflict.  It also considers the role played by other countries and points out obstacles to effective intervention.  House of Commons Library Research Paper 12/48

Discusses the current situation in Syria and the problems posed by the fighting including refugee flows, terrorist involvement, breakdowns in arms control, and the available policy options for the U.S.

From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Report on the future of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria from the Secretary General.  From the United Nations

Discusses the current situation in Syria and the problems posed by the fighting including refugee flows, terrorist involvement, control of Syrian weapon stockpiles, and the spread of violence to neighboring countries like Israel, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reviews the deterioration of political relations between Sunni and Shiite factions of the Iraqi government since December 2011, the causes for the deterioration, and the legacy of U.S. involvement in Iraq.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report assesses some of the foreign policy implications of recent events in the Middle East region, provides an overview of U.S. responses to date, and explores selected case studies to illustrate some key questions and dilemmas that Congress and the executive branch face.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Provides a brief summary of recent developments in selected countries of the Middle East including Egypt, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Libya, and Syria as well as a statistical table about the region as a whole.  From the Library of the House of Commons

Tries to envision the consequences of the fall of the  Asad regime for Syria, Iran, Israel, and Middle East developments in general.  From the National Defense University Institute of Strategic Studies

Explores the close relationship between Lebanon and Syria and explores how unrest in Syria may affect Lebanon and the Middle East in general.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Analyzes bilateral issues between the U.S. and Syria including citizen unrest, the government’s violent response, and support for terrorism.  Also considers current issues for Congress, including arms sales from Russia, Syria’s role in Mideast peace processes, nuclear proliferation and human rights. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by OpenCRS.com

Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamist militia, a political party, a social welfare organization, and a U.S. State Department-designated terrorist organization.   This report provides background information on Hezbollah’s origins,  its ideology and policies, and the implications for Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.  Also discusses possible Congressional options for weakening Hezbollah.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Analyzes an array of issues that affect relations between Syria and the U.S. including Syria’s relation with Iran, its role in the Middle East, and Syria’s alleged support for terrorist activity.  Also covers internal politics and future prospects for Syria.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by OpenCRS.org.

Describes the growing Syrian influence in Lebanon connected with the influence of Hezbollah and what it may portend.  From the United States Institute of Peace

Unclassified portion of latest report to Congress on the activities of various countries in acquiring weapons of mass destruction and advanced conventional arms.  Covers the acquisition ambitions of Iran, North Korea and Syria.  From the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Current discussions on a layout for a peace park fail to provide insights for how to keep mechanisms for controlling and maintaining the park going for 5 or 10 years into the future. This work presents options that can increase the acceptability of the park concept to both parties and provide measures to sustain the agreement in future years. From the United States Institute of Peace.

Latest report to Congress by the intelligence community for the year 2008 on the activities of various countries in acquiring weapons of mass destruction and advanced conventional arms. This report covers Iran, Syria, and North Korea. Also covers the actions of China, North Korea, and Russia in selling dual use technologies to entities in the Middle East and South Asia. From the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, posted by the Federation of American Scientists.

Examines the relations between the Kurds and the Syrian state, traces the development of Kurdish political organization in Syria, traces the relationship between the Kurds and the Syrian prodemocracy movement, shows how stability in the region is connected to the status of the Kurds, and offers policy recommendations for Syria. From the United States Institute of Peace.

Describes the process by which Syria and Israel might be able to reach a peace agreement, the crucial elements each country would seek in such an agreement, and the implications for Middle East peace if such an agreement were to be reached. From the United States Institute of Peace.

Summarizes presentations from a symposium on human rights in Syria, following a December 2007 government crackdown on democracy activists. From the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Describes the current conditions of crisis, three years after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the Cedar Revolution which drove out the Syrians, in Lebanon. Also covers the current political impasse and prospects for the future. From the U. S. Institute of Peace.

Analyzes the role Syria might play in helping to resolve the Iraq War. Based on discussions from a recent seminar at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Examines the changing role of Syria in Lebanon, how military force has given way to persuasion, intimidation, and violence, the relationship between Syria and Hezbollah, and the implications for the future. From the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Press release on the results of the 2.5 year investigation into Canadian government actions in the arrest and torture of a Canadian citizen suspected of terrorist connections. Maher Arar was arrested in New York City by American authorities acting on information supplied by Canadian authorities, and then transported to Syria for interrogation. Arar was cleared of all allegations that he was connected to al Qaeda by the Commission, which offered 23 policy recommendations relating to future Canadian national security activities. The U.S. and Syria refused to participate in the investigation. The three volume report is embargoed until released by the Canadian Parliament. From the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar.

Reports concern that Iran may have a clandestine nuclear weapons program. Also includes sections on Libya, North Korea, Syria, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism. Discusses China, North Korea and Russia as key suppliers. Covers the period of 2004, though the Deputy Director of National Intelligence is charged with delivering such reports every six months. Posted by the Federation of American Scientists.

Report of the United Nations commission which implicated leading Syrian officials in the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. From the Commission

A revised edition of the September 2004 Comprehensive Report on Iraq’s WMD. The weapons are still missing, but the revised version adds several addenda on such topics as the status of people who formerly worked on Iraq’s weapons programs and the failure to find any evidence that weapons had been moved to Syria. Posted by GPO Access.