President Bashar Assad is no Great Satan. He was a British-trained eye specialist forced into the dynastic leadership of Syria by the car crash that killed his elder brother. The Assad regime has plenty of nasty officials but in my long regional experience, Syria is no worse than such brutal US allies as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco or Uzbekistan.
President Putin has long been calling for a negotiated settlement to end this destructive conflict that is quickly resembling Lebanon's ghastly civil war from 1975-1990 whose horrors I saw firsthand.
Who rules Syria is not worth one more death or refugee. Sadly, Syria may be beyond repair. The crazies we created are now running large parts of Iraq and Syria. Russia mutters about going into Iraq.
Vlad Putin keeps his game tightly under control. I'm not so sure about the Obama White House and its confused advisers. Better make a deal with Assad, a natural US ally, and end this crazy war before Sen. John McCain and his Republican crusader pals really do start World War III.
Washington refuses Russia any legitimate sphere of influence in Syria, though Moscow has had a small base in Tartus on the coast for over 40 years. This Russian logistics base is now being expanded and guarded by a ground force estimated as a reinforced company.
This week came reports that modest numbers of Iranian infantry have entered war-torn Syria. Lebanon's tough Hezbollah fighters are also in action in Syria.
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