No dog in the fight

Submitted by Jeff (United States), Aug 21, 2012 at 13:08

Why pick sides when two enemies fight? There's no reason. Let them duke it out if they want.

Syria's rebels do not need Western help to bring down the regime (and wouldn't be grateful for it if they did receive it, if Iraq is any guide). There's no "if" about it; Iraq is a guide. Don't forget Libya and Egypt. (If Obama acquiesces to Egypt's demand to free the murderous Omar Abdel Rahman, will they be grateful then? No.)

Third, hastening the Assad regime's collapse will not save lives. It will mark not the end of the conflict, but merely the close of its opening chapter with yet worse violence likely to follow. Truer words were never spoken. What we're witnessing is nothing more than the ordinary and time-honored mode of transition of power in the middle east. Assad will fight to the death, because choices like Habitat for Humanity or running a charity for Haiti don't await him. His only remotely possible choice besides an end like Kaddafi's is asylum somewhere, in which case his followers will be left behind to their brutal fate.

Welcome to Arab politics.

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