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This article basically states that since the US's withdrawal from Middle Eastern affairs, regional actors were left to fight over who will lead the region's future. The fight is baiscally a run off between Turkey, Qatar, Saudi, and the UAE, each country doing their part intervening in conflicts aiding their supported side. Rather than achieving goals, these proxy wars have fueled the violence, chaos, and polarization deepening the problems they originally sought to mend. While the US has succeeded in abstaining from Mid East affairs, the question now is whether or not they should continue this resignation or step in to urge for order and peace. 

"Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah Sunday announced that Hezbollah had covertly sent fighters to combat ISIS in Iraq, saying that his party had fought under local command and not interfered in the country's internal affairs as Saudi Arabia had in some Arab states."

UNODA- United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. This site discusses the use of the Geneva Protocol in regards to chemical weaponry. The protocol prohibits use of chemical weaponry in warfare but does not prohibit stock piling. Geneva adopted the chemical weapons convention which established the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons (OPCW)

In this NY Times article, the authors give a decent "state of affairs" as seen through Israeli and US eyes. Published a few days after Netanyahu's re-election, it touches on his reversal of the Palestinian state issue and the US Government's response to such.

This article provides a brief background and history of the Libyan revolution. This background is helpful in understanding the current situation in Libya.

Something I was suggesting yesterday during class; the idea of involving NATO w/Middle Eastern affairs would be much more efficient than the stand-alone efforts we have been taking. Poland is taking this step, but in response to Russia's support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Poland hopes NATO will agree at the Warsaw summit in July to send more troops to former communist eastern Europe.

None of this should surprise. After all, it's a presidential election year, and it would be downright un-American not to blame or criticize someone. But who or what is actually responsible for the unhappy state of affairs in the muddled Middle East? Here are some plausible possibilities.

"ISIS has taken the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to a nearly industrial level as the terror group continues to hold onto territory in Iraq and Syria, Foreign Affairs reports."

This article talks about a man who was sentenced to three years in prison for claiming that many women in the country have extramarital affairs. This man made this claim during a television interview, which sparked an uproar. The court convicted him of spreading false news that disturbs the public peace.

Goes into depth on the hit the Muslim Brotherhood took after the Mubarak era. Gives a brief history of the origin of the organization as well.

This Al Jazeera article discusses the recent failed UN proposal presented by the Palestinian Authority calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from recently seized territories. More importantly though, the article discusses the current state of affairs and calls for a single state solution.

REUTERS - Weddings in Iran have long been an over-the-top affair with families spending thousands of dollars to celebrate a union. But now some couples are splurging on an entirely different sort of nuptial celebration: a divorce party. Local media outlets and blogs have been abuzz for months about lavish parties, complete with sarcastic invitations and humorous cakes, for couples splitting up.

The Council on Foreign Relations published an article about democratization in the middle east and the major obstacles that are present in the process. While most assume Islamists and Islamic embedded institutions are the root of the delayed democratic transition, the problems are much bigger than that. While Islamist regimes do indeed stunt the growth of democratic progress in terms of creating a stable government, Arab countries struggle with economic and social factors as well. The Arab Spring Revolutions have caused economic and social degradation across the region, resulting in a road block of political leadership. Without a reliable and capable government structure, the states are unable to progress economically. However, in order to have a stable government, social and economic institutions must be in place to create this capitalist economy that they strive for. Because most wealth resides in oil, the revenue that the states bring in isn't distributed properly throughout society and is concentrated within few business elites. The article stresses that instead of foreign aid going into the hands of an unstable leader or regime, it should be invested in institutions in order to spur economic growth and eliminate corruption. Rather than focusing on the Islamist-secularist divide, the world should be working towards the strengthening of institutions to create a stable foundation for governance. 

Though so far remaining neutral,Sryian Druze now demanding weaponry from the Assad regime as defense against IS and other extremists, or will find elsewhere. Threat? Are the Druze growing tired of neutral position? Will they eventually be tied into the war?

History of the Muslim Brotherhood is included in this article with regards to the islamists and Jihadists. According to the article "Jihadists loathe the Muslim brotherhood for rejecting global jihad and embracing democracy."  The article mentions members of the Brotherhood in "Egypt, France, Jordan Syria, Tunisian, and the United Kingdom."

This article talks about the women of ISIS and what are some factors that lead to them joining ISIS or other rebellion armies around the world. The article also speaks about how for women, gender and politics overlap in a way that is doesn't for men. Sometimes in times of conflict women have to join these group in order to survive. 

Syria's allies, Russia, Iran, and China, all stand by them despite western powers opposing the Syrian government. There are different reasons to why these powers seem to stay with Syria such as Russia's ideologies, Iran's strategy, or China's trading. Either way, these government will stand by them until there is nothing left to lose.