Syria’s So-Called Reforms Fall Short: What This Means for America’s National Security

As Syria enters a tumultuous year following the fall of Bashar Assad's regime, claims of reform and transitional justice have surfaced. However, these gestures fall dangerously short of true democracy or stability—conditions essential not only for Syrians, but for American national security as well. Are These Reforms More Than Window Dressing? Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, recently visited Damascus and highlighted legal reforms reportedly pushed through parliament, committees dedicated to transitional justice, and an openness to international rights observers. Yet she cautions that these signs are "very good" but superficial in nature. While Washington watches from afar, it...