Dr Christopher Phillips, Reader in International Relations at Queen Mary, had an article published in Middle East Eye about the Trump administration’s response to the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in Douma. He writes: “The Trump administration, it would seem, has discovered the reality that the Syria situation is far from straightforward and faces a dilemma on how to proceed.” He added: “In the meantime, the longer any strikes are delayed, the more Assad and Russia will be prepared. For them and the long-suffering Syrian people, the war continues, with or without chemical weapons. A Western strike might temporarily impact the conflict, but few believe it will be a blow that Assad and his allies can't absorb and overcome.”More »