The Assad dynasty has been a long supporter of al-qaeda From: Syria’s Uprising and the Fracturing of the Levant - Emile Hokayem https://www.amazon.com/Syrias-Uprising-Fracturing-Levant-Adelphi/dp/0415717388
Unlike free Syrians, Assad's US-backed PKK allies can't exactly object to betrayal. Russia Asks PYD to Hand over Afrin to Assad or Turkey Will Invade It: Source http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/middle-east/361781
State of emergency for almost half a century, Israel was simply nothing but an excuse for the Assad dynasty to justify domestic repression. From: Burning Country_ Syrians in Revolution and War - Robin Yassin-Kassab, Leila Al-Shami https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Country-Syrians-Revolution-War/dp/0745336221
Assad regime's role in the slaughters of Palestinians during Lebanese civil war From: Ashes of Hama: The Muslim Brotherhood in Syria by Raphael Lefevre https://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Hama-Muslim-Brotherhood-Syria/dp/019933062X
Same old same old. Anythng for Assad. After all, CWs, Napalm, cluster bombs, ballistic missiles, etc are fine as long as they're only used against Arab civilians, a.k.a. "collateral damage". U.S. Ready to Discuss Syrian No-Fly Zones With Russia, Secretary Tillerson Says http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-ready-discuss-syrian-no-fly-zones-russia-secretary-n779956
The Alawite minority domination of the military can be traced back to the colonial occupation of Syria, and still continues under the illegitimate Assad dynasty. This is how Assad security state looked like on the eve of the revolution by sectarian affiliation. From: The Grievances of Sunni Officers in the Syrian Armed Forces by Hicham Bou Nassif
Gangster's Paradise: Assad's Control Erodes as Warlords Gain Upper Hand http://www.spiegel.de/international...as-warlords-grow-more-powerful-a-1137475.html
This pretty much shows what we learned in the Balkans, and maybe that we should stay out next time something like this pops up. As for the Alawites, in April 2015 it was estimated that 1/3 of military age Alawites had been killed. It is probably worse now. Whoever wins, they win a desert.
The US could have ended the war in weeks by destroying Assad's rotten forces in 2011, but instead they intentionally let the war drag on in order to keep Assad in his throne. He's not only the devil they know, but he's worked closely in rendition and torture of prisoners in the "war on terror" and secured Israel's borders like his father before him. The SDF are the "most effective forces"? They are backed by thousands upon thousands of US rockets, bombs and endless close air support, don't you think it would be seen as the "most effective"? They were being trashed by Daesh before Obama bailed them out. They're shabiha in all but name; they'll never fight their regime, partly because they are an extension of the regime. Destroying Raqqa via the SDF will kill thousands of civilians and generate the anger, misery and the environment that will ensure that Daesh 2.0 will return. Look at what's being done to Mosul and its effects, the blitzkrieg is successfully militarily defeating Daesh, but creating the oppression that will fuel their comeback.
Fighting Daesh without touching Assad is like operating to remove a secondary cancerous tumour while leaving the primary cancer in place. Trump hasn't changed Syria policy. To defeat ISIS, some think he should. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Forei...a-policy.-To-defeat-ISIS-some-think-he-should
Assad's US-backed PYD allies continue to serve the regime. PYD leader threatens to hand over Efrin to Assad regime http://www.orient-news.net/en/news_...-threatens-to-hand-over-Efrin-to-Assad-regime
Moscow and Tehran keep telling the world how much Syrians love Assad - so why do they need forces from across the region and the world to maintain him in power? Russia Calls on Central Asian Allies to Commit Forces to Syria http://syrianobserver.com/EN/News/32984/Russia_Calls_Central_Asian_Allies_Commit_Forces_Syria
Jeremy Corbyn pictured enjoying pizza with controversial pro-Assad campaigner who denied genocide in Srebrenica I'm having a wonderful dinner and discussion with hopefully the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom...@jeremycorbyn pic.twitter.com/VnHc7gDDzH— Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos (@DrMarcusP) July 10, 2017 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...tured-enjoying-pizza-controversial-pro-assad/
As Syrians know all too well, the alt-right and alt-left are very keen on denying or justifying genocides past and present. Srebrenica: Twenty years of genocide denial https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/07/srebrenica-twenty-years-of-genocide-denial/
The superpowers are heartwarmingly keen to protect the interests of Assad, Israel, Iran and everyone else in Syria - apart from the Syrian people, a.k.a. "collateral damage". Russian FM: Israel’s interests in Syria will be ensured http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news...aels-interests-in-syria-will-be-ensured-29770
The problem with destroying Assad is that Syria would have been a Libya 2.0 on steroids. With Turkey, Iran and the Gulf Arabs all funding different militias. Not that it's much better now just that I don't see any good options. Unlike the Balkans there's too many outside interests funneling weapons and money to keep the fire burning so the local combatants can't just wear themselves out.
Libya has had several tens of thousands of deaths. Syria has had (probably) well over one million by now. There's no comparison.
Russia brings in ground forces to continue "enforcing the ceasefire" Putin-style. The need for years of carpet-bombing, ethno-sectarian cleansing and military occupation by assorted global and regional powers and their militias simply to maintain Assad in power obviously underlines the regime's enduring popularity with Syrians... Russian military deploys police in Syria to bolster ‘de-escalation’ zones http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/250720171
After six years of lies, finally some honesty from Bashar's buddies in Washington. Presumably the Assad regime can get back to torturing suspects for the CIA soon (it's not like Vlad's going to object). Washington finally admits 'US-backed Syria rebels' can only fight IS, not Assad regime https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/n...mits-us-backed-syria-rebels-can-only-fight-is
Celebrating Jerusalemites show the world that the Syrian revolution has not been forgotten https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/b...-the-syrian-revolution-has-not-been-forgotten
The Libyan Civil war doesn't have major fuel suppliers in Iran, Russia and Hezbollah which has likely tempered down it's otherwise equal level cluster********.
Those who stand for freedom, democracy and dignity are the first enemy of tyrants in ties or turbans. One of Palestinian-Syrian best-known democracy activists has been executed https://www.washingtonpost.com/amph...3f4ca0-778a-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html