Options for Syria

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/29/153926907/few-good-options-remain-to-end-syrian-attacks

Here is a good discussion about the current situation in Syria and the possible responses by the Western world. Joshua Landis, who speaks in this broadcast, is the director of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oklahoma. I deeply respect his opinion, and I follow his blog on Syria daily: http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/

This discussion points out the difficulties that surround any kind of intervention in Syria. Unfortunately, it seems that Syria will soon enter a brutal civil war along ethnic and tribal divisions. As the opposition to Assad's regime grows larger, the Syrian army has started arming Alawite thugs to assist their battles against the Free Syrian Army. These militias are the ones responsible for the massacre in Houla, with the government backing. Western forces are hesitant to directly intervene in Syria because of the obvious complexities in the region. Regardless, the opposition forces are receiving aid and even weapons from the West and other Arab countries. The West seems committed to forcing Assad out of power, but they are unwilling to give direct military aid. Some have drawn parallels with other civil wars in which the U.S. has provided aerial support for rebel forces in order to overthrow corrupt dictators. This method would avoid the problems of directly arming tribal forces while at the same time would give aid to the opposition and hopefully stop a full-scale civil war. Unfortunately, it may be too late for that. If the roaming militias gain enough military power, Syria will disintegrate into factions warring against each other. This would make intervention even more difficult because it will be much more difficult to decide which militia is (1) worth backing, and (2) powerful enough to stabilize the country.