Clash reported between Jordan and Syria in border area

[riderinthestorm]

9. Ellen, that's precisely the point. We don't know exactly what's playing out in Syria

We know there's Iranian Revolutionary Guards advising Assad - they're Shia brethren who see the conflict in religious sectarian terms. But of course they're also in opposition to the US and Israel so who else are they supplying?

Russia's got their only ME port in Syria, plus Putin is ALL about playing old cold war games. They're also savvy enough to know that a regional, sectarian (and complicated tribal) war in the region is nuts so they're not above playing all sides.

Then there are Turkish separatists who are fighting to break away from Turkey.... And Israel - don't forget Israel....

We do NOT have any idea what's playing out in Syria other than we know this isn't a typical Arab Spring revolutionary movement. This isn't an organic grass roots rebellion of Syrians v Assad. Not at all.

There's a reason TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) wanted Damascus as a sort of Pan-Mid-East capital - because he recognized it was a crucial nexus point of tribal, religious and regional conflicts.