The Conversation: 'Syria casts its shadow as G8 leaders gather'

By Stefan Wolff. President Obama's confirmation that the United States would begin arming Syrian rebels has prompted an urgent debate about both the legality and the effectiveness of the decision. The announcement, ahead of the G8 leader's summit in Northern Ireland that starts today, closely followed a joint statement by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the UK foreign secretary, William Hague, that their priority remains to see a diplomatic process "that succeeds in reaching a negotiated end to the conflict".