Charles ListerVerified account

@Charles_Lister

Senior Fellow & Director of at & Columnist. Author of . Following , armed groups, , &

Washington, DC
mei.edu/profile/charle…
Joined January 2012
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    Oct 7

    's withdrawal from the - border is a catastrophe & a betrayal of 5yrs of hard work by & the . All the wrong actors win from this & loses -- my new post on :

    93 replies 349 retweets 594 likes
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  2. 4 hours ago

    " has finally bitten off more than it can chew in its ceasefire-keeping operations." For , says that despite increasing their numbers, 's military police have struggled to keep the peace in NE :

    1 reply 10 retweets 16 likes
  3. 5 hours ago

    This article by , & is an exemplary example of OSINT research. No clear conclusion is drawn, but big & important questions are asked. If you're interested in &/or humanitarianism, you should give it a read:

    The "Free Burma Rangers" have become known as a humanitarian NGO in NE . But they've been filmed engaging in fighting alongsid…
    13 retweets 17 likes
  4. 5 hours ago

    The "Free Burma Rangers" have become known as a humanitarian NGO in NE . But they've been filmed engaging in fighting alongside the , carrying rifles & ammunition & driving vehicles w. gun-ports. The blurry line btw activism & humanitarianism:

    8 replies 23 retweets 51 likes
  5. 5 hours ago

    According to 's , strikes also destroyed a "covered parking lot" inside 's 4th [Mechanized] Division HQ, west of . Assuming the target was storing sophisticated weapons, it's continued evidence of the 4th Div's close ties to .

    1 reply 3 likes
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  6. Retweeted
    7 hours ago

    If you’re in today, I would really recommend this event - inspiring speakers, important subject - at 12:30pm.

    Just landed in DC a couple of hours ago to be part of a panel at about the role of women in Syria’s future. I know everyone here is busy with the impeachment, but take a break from that drama and come talk Syria with me, & .
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    1 reply 5 retweets 8 likes
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  7. Retweeted
    13 hours ago

    Just landed in DC a couple of hours ago to be part of a panel at about the role of women in Syria’s future. I know everyone here is busy with the impeachment, but take a break from that drama and come talk Syria with me, & .

    2 replies 13 retweets 40 likes
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  8. 5 hours ago

    "The devil's in the details," says. - 's delegation chief was replaced at last minute after questions over his loyalty. - 2 civil society delegates pulled out after threats to family members in -held areas. - Several regime delegates are intel-linked.

    's Constitutional Committee "is nothing more than a white elephant... If it is superfluous, then that is not by chance but by design — due to 's involveme…
    1 reply 7 retweets 8 likes
  9. 5 hours ago

    's Constitutional Committee "is nothing more than a white elephant... If it is superfluous, then that is not by chance but by design — due to 's involvement." - Honest & important analysis by analyst

    1 reply 5 retweets 8 likes
  10. 6 hours ago

    Talking with "bad guys" is a crucially important node of meaningful diplomacy, but only if done by someone: - Of high standing, formally empowered to talk - Who champions *our* values - Who doesn't take the "bad guys" side meets exactly *0* of those conditions.

    There's obviously a difference between talking with dictatorial regimes and praising them. The question is what policy goals, interests and values you're trying to advance. But it's troubling to see any Democrat trying to score points by knocking diplomacy with bad guys.
    4 replies 9 retweets 24 likes
  11. 6 hours ago

    Talk of "forever wars" is fair, but what it consistently fails to acknowledge is the (a) substantial reduction in cost of recent campaigns in & & (b) tactically at least, their relative success. See cost data from this study, for e.g.

    1 retweet 5 likes
  12. Retweeted
    23 hours ago

    This event is at tomorrow at 12.30pm. has had to step out, so I'll be moderating a sure-to-be excellent discussion on 's Women, involving , & ! RSVP at the link below.

    I'm excited to announce that will host an awesome panel with 3 esteemed women next week -- Nov 21, 12.30-2pm.…
    7 retweets 8 likes
  13. 23 hours ago

    Credit to for ID'ing mercenaries who tortured, beheaded & lynched-on-fire a Army deserter in 2017, including "Stanislav D." is also investigating.

    2 replies 61 retweets 84 likes
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  14. Nov 20

    Today is . Several young children were killed this evening, when an regime OTR-21 Tochka ballistic missile carrying cluster munitions, was launched into an IDP camp in al-Qah, . 20+ civilians killed, mostly women & children.

    12 replies 174 retweets 155 likes
  15. Nov 20

    WOW. Thread by 's showing that the "Glass House" (Quds Force HQ at Airport) was hit overnight, partially collapsing a section of the building. An HQ in Mezzeh AB also hit.

    Thread - 1/4: 's (20 November 2019) accurate in caused massive damage. The |ian HQ in intl. airport, AKA the , was partially collapsed. …
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    1 reply 10 retweets 13 likes
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  16. Nov 20

    Dejection personified. looks utterly stumped by ’s testimony.

    4 replies 14 retweets 44 likes
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  17. Nov 20

    Wow. 's face here - as proceedings take their 1st break - tells you everything you need to know. just threw & the entire defense under the bus.

    12 replies 33 retweets 73 likes
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  18. Nov 20

    Very excited for to publish ' latest - a detailed look at the 's deployments to NE following 's deal w. . Fascinating & important details on a "wild cocktail of units," indicating manpower challenges.

    7 retweets 18 likes
  19. Nov 20

    I'm sure there's little doubt that minority elements within the have links to smuggling of elements in , but as I've written elsewhere before, elements within the are guilty of exactly the same. The ideology claim (per open source reporting) is v. dubious.

    2 replies 5 likes
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  20. Nov 20

    The DOD-OIG sourcing on the - links is appalling. 1st they cite DIA citing "think tank reports;" then they cite DIA citing "open source reporting," but no footnotes contain any sources for external judgement. DIA & OIR are also - inaccurately - used interchangeably.

    The DOD OIG report - rightly - says the regime, , or the are "unlikely" to prioritize fighting in NE .…
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    2 replies 3 retweets 11 likes
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  21. Nov 20

    The DOD OIG report - rightly - says the regime, , or the are "unlikely" to prioritize fighting in NE . It cites "think tank reports" claiming limited - links, but offers no evidence & cites no "think tank reports."

    5 retweets 10 likes
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  22. Nov 20

    : 's willingness to hit multiple targets amid a broader wave of anti- strikes is a significant message directed at /. 's condemnation is unsurprising, but what happens next (a re-established "calm" or graduation re-escalation) is key.

    3 replies 1 retweet 7 likes
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  23. Nov 20

    Reporting suggests 17 "foreign" -backed militiamen & 6 nationals were killed in 's extensive wave of targeted strikes in overnight. Multiple SAM sites hit, plus Quds Force arms depots (in Qudsaya & Kisweh) + Mezzeh AB, Airport etc.

    1 reply 3 retweets 7 likes
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  24. Nov 20

    The DOD OIG report also makes clear - rightly - that the killing of leader would "have little effect on 's ability to reconstitute." DIA: was "postured to withstand" 's death & ops would likely maintain operations at "its current trajectory."

    2 replies 4 retweets 5 likes
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  25. Nov 20

    New DOD OIG report clearly states that was "likely" to benefit from 's incursion into NE (green-lighted by ). It also says clearly - per DIA - that was *already* reconstituting & still had an external ops capacity. It didn't have to be this way.

    3 replies 20 retweets 33 likes
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  26. Nov 19

    Despite the incredible loss suffered in , reminds viewers at the end of that she emerged out of with her family - including a 2nd daughter, Taima - and her footage (5,000hrs+). She & used that footage to make "For Sama."

    2 replies 5 retweets 17 likes
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  27. Retweeted
    Nov 19

    Thank you to everyone who watched tonight on . By watching and sharing, you’re helping bring awareness to critical issues that need to be front and center in our global consciousness. Learn more about our film at

    7 replies 50 retweets 153 likes
  28. Nov 19

    In their final days in , & recall the chaos of 's siege. In the final 20 days, Hamza's hospital performed 890 operations & treated 6,000 wounded civilians. They bid farewell to their only home.

    1 reply 11 retweets 31 likes
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  29. Nov 19

    After months of horrendous attack & immeasurable destruction & death, sends a message via the , to & the 100,000s left in besieged eastern : surrender & be exiled [or die]. Suddenly, military defeat stares them in the eyes.

    3 replies 4 retweets 11 likes
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  30. Nov 19

    As pro- forces besieged 100,000s of civilians & rained hell down on them in , was running a hospital & speaking to the world's media. was filming footage for Western news. And yet, the world stood by & did nothing.

    4 replies 6 retweets 10 likes
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  31. Nov 19

    Amid the siege on , violence goes sky-high. 's makeshift hospital was treating 300 patients every day - victims of & shelling & bombing. The efforts of Hamza & his team were truly heroic.

    3 replies 22 retweets 18 likes
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  32. Nov 19

    As is placed under a brutal siege by pro- forces, captures another touching human moment, as their friend, Salem, finds a single persimmon fruit for his wife Afraa - bringing a brief glimpse of joy.

    2 replies 9 retweets 43 likes
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  33. Nov 19

    . investigations have made clear that & made "widespread use" of banned cluster munitions in attacks on in 2016. See this report, for e.g: The published an excellent report on this too:

    1 reply 4 retweets 8 likes
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  34. Nov 19

    As , & Sama briefly crossed into to visit a sick relative, & dramatically escalated their assault on - employing numerous weapons, including cluster bombs, like this.

    1 reply 9 retweets 9 likes
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  35. Nov 19

    As 's bombing of intensified, 's hospital was targeted in a night-time precision strike - killing doctors & patients alike. covered that too, using 's footage.

    1 reply 10 retweets 8 likes
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  36. Retweeted
    Nov 19

    "What do you want to be when you grow up?" asked a young boy, who was living through the siege of Aleppo. He didn't hesitate in his response.

    3 replies 23 retweets 50 likes
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  37. Retweeted
    Nov 19

    In 2016, the Syrian government with the backing of used prohibited weapons and indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas in . found that these tactics amounted to war crimes: +

    3 replies 39 retweets 64 likes
  38. Nov 19

    Arguably the most moving scene in is the arrival of a severely injured, 9-months pregnant woman to 's hospital. Her baby is extracted, but it isn't breathing. After what seems like forever, desperate attempts see her survive:

    2 replies 4 likes
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  39. Nov 19

    . reminds viewers that living amid such intense war & loss, people went to great lengths to achieve a semblance of normality - from playing chess in the street & swimming in bombed craters, to painting burned-out buses.

    1 reply 2 retweets 4 likes
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  40. Nov 19

    Recalling the arrival of , the birth of new life amid so much loss in , commented: - "I remembered all we had suffered, all the people we had lost."

    2 replies 2 retweets 7 likes
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