Andrew Bowen is Scholar for the Middle East at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. He regularly writes, teaches and consults on Middle Eastern politics and American foreign policy. His work primarily focuses on the regional and international politics of the Levant, but he frequently comments on the international relations of the Gulf and American national security policy. Follow Andrew on Twitter @abowen17

A Dark Winter Ahead

[caption id="attachment_55244818" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Trucks and APCs beloning to the Egyptian riot police are parked in the main street…

Assad Survives?

[caption id="attachment_55233784" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Syrian flag flies in Damascus during a pro-government rally in February 2012[…

Eleven Years after 9/11

[caption id="attachment_55234001" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The rubble of the World Trade Center smoulders following the 9/11 terrorist attack…

Syria’s Future and Iran’s Great Game

[caption id="attachment_55234037" align="alignnone" width="620"] Former vice president of Syria, Abdul Halim Khaddam, pictured at his Paris residence…

Restrained Approach

[caption id="attachment_55237224" align="alignnone" width="620"] US President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference with John Brennan (R), and…

Maliki’s Damascene Affair

[caption id="attachment_55237445" align="alignnone" width="620"] Anti-government protesters demonstrate in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi on 18…

Old Wine in a New Bottle

[caption id="attachment_55238334" align="aligncenter" width="620"] US Secretary of State John Kerry. Source: US State Department[/caption]President…

Drawing a Red Line in the Fog of War

[caption id="attachment_55240037" align="aligncenter" width="620"]Syrian troops photographed during a gas mask training exercise in Saudi Arabia…

Getting to Geneva

[caption id="attachment_55235323" align="aligncenter" width="620"] US president Barack Obama delivers a speech on Mideast and North Africa policy in…

Too Little, Too Late

[caption id="attachment_55242680" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Rebel tries to locate a fighter plane as he stands on top of a anti aricraft gun…