It is hard to know which side is going to come out...lack of data...but they play rough politics in the upper ranks of the Republican Guard...using airplanes as their dueling pistols...
I agree..the Arab political world is as cut-throat as it gets. I do think that there is something stirring and it couold have a huge impact on the situation. If things get too hairy the opposition movement may have an opportune moment to stage a coup but they will need the help of the West and I pray that we are up to the task. Europe will bail as seems to be their nature now.