Syria

[gedingradski]

One of the more apalling aspects of this conflict is how much it resembles a Cold War flashpoint. External powers supplying rebel/government forces with aid but not entering themselves or providing any meaningful direct military support.

Not that I blame them. This thing would go down worse than Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo combined.. still might..

Maybe I've come a little late to conversation, but I don't think getting heated over the topic of religion is going to help this discussion, this conflict or any discussion/conflict ever. I recognise the big part religion has with this war (i.e. politico-religious-ethnic(?) sectarianism within Syria that led to the conflict in the first place), but it is further making the situation worse for the rebels. More fundamentalists are getting involved in the fighting and this is making many of the external powers and interest groups less inclined to help. In fact, the last UN vote saw less 'Yes' votes for a motion against Syria (i.e. angry letter), same amount of 'No' votes, but I think the point is that many countries are positioning themselves for a post-war Syria with Assad still in place. Is this because they don't think the rebels will win and want to distance themselves politically? Or are they concerned that if the rebels win what will be left will be a lawless moonscape run by religious fundamentalists? Maybe both?

Unfortunately, I don't think we've seen the worst. Last I saw the estimated civilian deaths in Syria are over 90,000 in 2 years... compared with civilian deaths in Iraq for the last 10 years at around 115,000... and no end in sight. Just more hatred, more killing, more futures and lives wasted.