The Morning Brief



Syrian CW Reports Could be Ploy for Asylum for Assad
New reports yesterday that the Syrian military has weaponized chemical weapons could indicate an effort by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to increase his leverage for the terms of his departure from power, possibly to convince Western states to facilitate an asylum deal. LIGNET is skeptical that chemical weapons are being readied and believes the news reports may amount to disinformation by the Assad regime or its opponents and could also represent speculation by U.S. officials.
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France: How the Conservatives are Helping Hollande
Faced with a stagnating economy and criticism that he’s failed to make good on many of his campaign pledges, Francois Hollande has had a rocky start as president of France. In the last two weeks, however, he‘s received an early Christmas present from his political opponents. Instead of uniting to present a clear alternative vision to the Socialist Hollande, the conservatives in France have splintered, and their party appears to be on the brink of ruin.
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North Korea Isolated Amid Planned Missile Launch
With the announcement that North Korea intends to conduct another long-range ballistic missile test later this month, the country will only deepen its isolation by showing it has no intention of veering away from the confrontational policies it has pursued in the past. The test is set to coincide with elections across the border in South Korea, although this action could backfire and may well assist politicians who favor more hardline approaches to Seoul's northern neighbor.
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Despite Rising Anti-Semitism, Europe Still Friend to Israel
Rising anti-Semitism in Europe, as well as strong support from European nations for the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) bid to gain observer status in the United Nation, are raising fears that Israel is being abandoned by its friends. As disturbing as these developments are, LIGNET believes Israel’s position is in many ways growing stronger as it is increasingly seen as a rock of Western stability in an ocean of regional chaos triggered by the Arab Spring.
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