CIAO DATE: 05/04

Tangled Skein or Gordian Knot?

Doron Zimmermann

Center for Security Studies at ETH

January 2004

 

This book examines the extent to which Iran and Syria support terrorist and political violence movements in the Middle East and, more specifically, in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. The author argues that the regional status quo, coupled with the military might arrayed against Iran and Syria, compels both states to depend on asymmetric confrontations by proxy. He goes on to state that unless confronted diplomatically or militarily, these states will have no incentive to abandon their support for such movements.

 

Table of Contents

Contents (PDF, 3 pages, 52.7 KB)

Preface (PDF, 2 pages, 24.5 KB)

Abstract (PDF, 2 pages, 30.3 KB)

List of Terms and Abbreviations (PDF, 2 pages, 33 KB)

1.  Setting the Stage: Iran, Syria and Political Violence Movements in the Middle East (PDF, 46 pages, 801.2 KB)

1.1  General Background on Support for PVMs by Iran and Syria

1.2  Background on Iranian support for PVMs Since the Revolution of 1979

1.3  Background on Syrian support for PVMs under Hafez and Bachir al-Asad

1.4  Geo-strategy and Power in the Middle East: Iran and Syria Between Regional Aspirations and Isolation

1.5  The Palestinian Territories and Lebanon as Operational Theaters of Iranian and Syrian Supported PVMs

2.  Iran as a State Supporter of PVMs (PDF, 26 pages, 466.7 KB)

2.1  Iranian State Institutions Tasked with Implementing Policy Involving PVMs in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories

2.2  Iranian PVM Clients: Who's Who?

2.3  The Nature and Extent of Iranian Support for PVMs

2.4  The Long-Term Strategic Objectives of Iranian Support for PVMs

2.5  U.S. Policy on Iran's Support for PVMs

2.6  Israeli Policy on Iran's Support for PVMs

3.  Syria as a State Supporter of PVMs (PDF, 30 pages, 470.3 KB)

3.1  Syrian State Institutions Tasked with Implementing Policy Involving PVMs in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories

3.2  Syrian PVM Clients: Who's Who?

3.3  The Nature and Extent of Syrian Support for PVMs

3.4  The Long-Term Strategic Objectives of Syrian Support for PVMs

3.5  U.S. Policy on Syria's Support for PVMs

3.6  Israeli Policy on Syria's Support for PVMs

4.  The Long-Term Objectives of Iranian and Syrian Support for PVMs: Tangled Skein or Gordian Knot? (PDF, 6 pages, 63.1 KB)

Bibliography, (PDF, 11 pages, 204 KB)