Syria: This will end badly
What happens when you take a region with little history of self-rule, numerous tribal alliances over nationalism, sectarian strife including murder, an abundance of the world’s most sought after commodity, regional power players, autocratic rule, and global powers playing a chess game? The Middle East of course. The Arab Spring started with a Tunisian street vendor’s self-immolation in December 2010 and we have seen the fall of autocrats in Libya, Yemen, and Egypt. Additionally, monarchies in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan have had to deal with popular uprisings via security forces and populist bribes. The latest chapter is unfolding in Syria and it is turning out to be a free-for-all where nearly a hundred thousand civilians have been killed and millions displaced. Local actors, sovereign states, terror groups, and the global powers are all vying for a solution, control, and a favorable outcome. When considering all of the possibl...