yep... this entire war in Syria now makes perfect sense.
And, the US is not involved because.... ????
Analysis - No good military options for U.S. in Syria
Reuters ^ | 4-27-2013 | Phil Stewart and Peter Apps
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3013225/posts
U.S. training Syrian opposition forces at secret location in Jordan, officials say
Associated Press ^ | 25 March 2013 06:11 PM | AP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3000733/posts
Hagel: US sending Army planners to Jordan
Associated Press ^ | April 17, 2013 | LOLITA C. BALDOR and DONNA CASSATA
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3009170/posts
U.S. brushes off Iran-Iraq-Syria gas line
Nov. 20, 2012 at 7:26 AM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3013225/posts?page=28#28
War-Gaming the Mullahs in 2004
http://etfdailynews.com/2012/07/09/syria-could-crash-the-u-s-dollar-uup/
Officials say Kerry to announce $100M in new Syria humanitarian aid - ($510M in two years)
Associated Press ^ | Updated: Wednesday, May 8, 11:45 AM | Lee reported from Washington
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3017148/posts
Arms Airlift to Syria Rebels Expands, With C.I.A. Aid
New York Times ^ | March 24, 2013 | C. J. CHIVERS and ERIC SCHMITT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3000527/posts?page=2
“Peace and Security”
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/peaceandsecurity/index?tab=articles
BENGHAZI!
The Russians were as taken by surprise as anyone at the rapidity at which Syria disintegrated, particularly after they and Iran made rapid moves to resupply Assad and to encourage him to keep cracking down. The jihadists moved just as quickly.
The US is and has been involved, just has no boots on the ground. The US should have been *more* involved, right away, to build a more secular alternative to the jihadists. It’s possible, however, that the recent establishment of US training camps in Jordan and Turkey will turn out to be one of those nick of time things, since Syria’s press-gangs of ruthless armed thugs trained by Iranian thugs and armed with Russia weapons have suddenly been gaining ground against the previously successful jihadist outfits; this will buy time and help marginalize the jihadists.
Hizbollah participation in support of Syria undermined them; Hamas’ abandonment of Assad undermined them; there’s been a precipitous break in the recent-years effusive relations between Turkey and Iran; the Turkish Islamofascist regime mismanaged itself into a corner, and it won’t be getting out of it any time soon; Russia backs Cyprus and Israel against Turkey about those offshore fields; Greece and Israel were driven together by Erdogan’s idiotic policies; Turkey’s best case scenario will be to support Kurdish independence, but I doubt that they’ll take it.
The longer the civil war goes on, the more likely Syria will wind up like Lebanon (Lebanon was shredded by the PLO, Iranians, and Syrians). The Assad regime has of late seen some daylight, and been able to take the initiative for the first time in over a year.