Commentaries, Opijnions, And Editorials -- December 31, 2012

Syria’s Descent Into Hell -- John McCain, Joseph I. Lieberman and Lindsey O. Graham, Washington Post

As 2012 draws to a close, Syria is descending into hell. At least 40,000 people, and likely many more, have been killed, while millions have been forced to flee their homes. Over the past 12 months, Bashar al-Assad has steadily unleashed ever-greater military firepower in response to what began as peaceful protests by the Syrian people. Starting with tanks and heavy artillery in February, the Syrian regime escalated over the summer to using attack helicopters and fighter jets. In recent weeks, it has begun firing Scud missiles at its own population.

The world has failed to stop this slaughter. President Obama has declared that his “red line” is Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Many Syrians, however, have told us that they see the U.S. red line as a green light for Assad to use all other weapons of war to massacre them with impunity. Many of those weapons continue to be supplied directly by Iran.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Syria: There is no 'noble war' that will justify this bloodshed -- Charles Glass, The National

Will America Seize the Moment on Iran? -- Robert Dreyfus, The Diplomat

Happy new year, Cairo? -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

Egypt faces the real test as pound falls -- The National editorial

No Easy Answers in Mali -- New York Times editorial

Opinionline: Will rape protests change India? -- USA Today

The word on Chinese princelings -- Isaac Stone Fish, Foreign Policy

China's New Hatchet Man -- David Ignatius, Real Clear Politics

Japan's New Stimulus: The Race With China To The Bottom -- Gordan G. Chang, Forbes

Analysis: Venezuela's Maduro channels Chavez, lacks his charisma -- Daniel Wallis and Brian Ellswort, Reuters

After Chávez, Who? -- Boris Muñoz, The New Yorker

What we can learn from Mexico -- CNN

Killers target diplomats worldwide -- Ben Barber, McClatchy Newspapers

Peering into a Multipolar World in 2030 -- Couloumbis, Ahlstrom & Weaver, Real Clear World