...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
at least tried to contain the conflagration in the heart of the Arab world but failed, while the two sides fought ferociously, committing horrible human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
violations. If at all foreign parties got involved in the Syrian conflict, it was for the wrong reasons. Turkey, Qatar and Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face...
-- backed by NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization....
powers -- and Iran made no secret of their sympathies. The result is that the aims behind the Arab Spring have given way to sectarian considerations, with the crisis spilling over to Leb.
The dissidents have now within their ranks forces that seem motivated less by democratic ideals and more by turban philosophies that could create regional problems if
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Trampler of Homs...
falls. Many Saudi-backed factions of the Free Syrian Army subscribe to turban philosophies, and some Al Qaeda loyalists have set up courts and executed 'informers'. On the whole, the FSA has added to its tactical advantage by holding the bases it captured; its previous policy was hit and run. Yet, in spite of these successes, it is unlikely it can defeat the state forces. UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi's plan now calls for a transitional government followed by an election -- whether parliamentary or presidential he didn't make clear. He also said nothing about President Assad's fate. The opposition has already made clear it will not negotiate with him.
This means fighting will continue because the Syrian strongman appears determined not to learn from Muammar Qadaffy
...whose instability was an inspiration to dictators everywhere, but whose end couldn't possibly happen to them...
's fate. Even his supporter, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, says the alternative to a negotiated settlement is "bloody chaos".