Middle East Zugzwang

... momentum, there is little doubt that the fate of radical Islamists in Syria and Iraq is sealed. This makes the issue of the two countries’ postwar state structure particularly important. Who will take responsibility for the future of the two key Middle Eastern nations? How will they do so? In early October 2016 Russia once again vetoed the French-drafted resolution on Syria co-sponsored by Spain calling for an end to all military flights over Aleppo. At the same time the Russian draft resolution supporting the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s plan for the withdrawal of militants from east Aleppo was voted down as well. On October 27, 2016, the UN Security Council failed ...