(In 6-8 clear and concise double-spaced pages):

You have been tasked with advising President Obama on one of the ongoing civil, ethnic and/or sectarian conflicts in the Middle East (i.e. Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya). The Obama administration is trying to decide whether to intervene, how to intervene, intensify their intervention, end their intervention or just continue to observe the conflict. It is your job to influence the President's final decision.

Syria will be the country to analyze Provide a very brief historical context to the conflict being addressed, who are the parties in conflict and recent US relations with the country (Don't get carried away with this section. Roughly 2 pages - it is not a history paper).

What policy should the United States employ to address the conflict? Why? What are the costs and benefits of the policy? In your argument be sure to consider issues such as the responsibility to protect, US security, US strategic/economic issues or concerns, past US experiences, a unilateral vs. multilateral response, US domestic concerns, prestige, international norms, pressure from allies, etc.