[caww]

You cannot eliminate the religious aspect......these are ‘still’ “Tribal Leaders” wearing suites and operating on the World Stage as diplomats for their country. The worl leaders may not look at this as religious but you can bank on it the Muslims do in every respect.

Take a look at the interim leaders various Governments have ready to assume control of Syria...they either are very much in the court of Islamic Shariah law.. as the political measure for Syria...or they favor it and supporting others who do. The oil issue is what will keep whoever retains power in the position of power.

[MarMema]

look from last fall

"Huge gas resource discoveries in Israel, in Qatar and in Syria combined with the emergence of the EU as the world's potentially largest natural gas consumer, combine to create the seeds of the present geopolitical clash over the Assad regime."