We’re about to create the same situation we created in Libya, and pretty much for the same reason. Most Arab nations are fragmented along sect and tribal lines, and the only way they can function in at least a semi-organized manner is for order to be imposed on them by a strong leader. When we start meddling by trying to graft “democracy” on them, we destroy the central government and leave behind anarchy.
The proper way to handle Syria was to leave Assad alone until he was opposed by a large enough, and well organized enough, contingent that there’d be the possibility of them forming an operating government that we’d like. Nothing like that exists at the moment, so we’re going to find ourselves fighting ISIS in Iraq and helping them overthrow Assad in Syria.
The smart move is to get the CIA’s noses out of Syria, leave Assad alone, and work on wiping out ISIS wherever we find hem. If the Syrian people ever get well enough organized that they can actually form a single power strong enough to take out Assad, we can figure out whether we want to support them at that point. Meanwhile, the ignorant and naïve “Arab Spring” philosophy ought to get the burial it so richly deserves.
Completely agree. We do have responsibility to the security of the Iraqis to a degree. We do. If we see a Black flag in Iraq, we put ordinance on it. Period. If we arm anyone in Syria we are contributing to the beheading of thousands of Allowites. Stay out!