The leaders of the G-8 nations are meeting at Camp David as I write this. Well, almost all of the leaders of the G-8 are there; Russian president Vladimir Putin said he was too busy to attend and sent the prime minister instead. Don't be fooled; sending the prime minister in Putin's Russia is like sending Joe Biden instead of president Obama for the USA. He's got a postion, but no clout whatsoever. One of the big items that is on the agenda for today's meeting is what to do with regard to Syria. Of course, since Russia is the country that is selling arms to the Assad regime, the absence of Putin makes the chance of any decision about Syria very unlikely.
Meanwhile, in Syria, the terrorists are getting busy. The terror groups are taking advantage of the chaos caused by the Assad regime to start attacking. The plan seems to be to use the intense antipathy of the populace towards the Assad regime to gain favor and eventual control. Today in Deir al-Zor, a car bomb with all the hallmarks of al Qaeda was detonated near military installations; nine are known dead and about 100 injured. This is the third major terror attack in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Syrian government forces are still shelling civilian areas and shooting protesters.
One of the main reasons for the entrance of al Qaeda into the Syrian mess is the failure of other countries to help end the attacks by Assad on his own people. The average Syrian must feel both despair at the killings and the need for revenge against a heartless regime. This opens the door for the crazies like al Qaeda to step in.
While all the bigwigs at Camp David are enjoying the mountain air, it would be nice if they could bring themselves to focus on events in Syria. We are getting chance to see the future for Syria should the world continue to stay uninvolved. Absent some outside involvement, it looks like there will be one of two possible outcome: 1) Assad maintains his hold on power in a country that is both a total and ruthless police state which is completely beholden to Iran for its existence; or 2) Syria turns into an Islamist terror state, much like Afghanistan under the Taliban offering a safe haven for al Qaeda. Under the first option, Iran is greatly strengthened. Under the second option, the stability of Iraq is undermined, Israel is likely to get involved with a terrorist neighbor, and the possibility of more attacks against Western targets increases. In other words, if the "leaders" at Camp David don't get of their backsides and do something quickly, there will be a disaster.
For his part, president Obama has been uniquely detached from events in Syria. I guess he sees nothing in Syria that might help with re-election. But there is a great deal in Syria that could affect the future of the USA and its allies. Obama needs to get moving on this. America simply cannot stand idly by any longer.
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