[quote=FlyerInHi]SK is right. If Assad win, Iran wins. Israel and SA have more at stake than we do. For us, the hesitation to get in there is justified.
So we provide arms to bearded Islamists, never mind that could come back and bite us in the ass later.
What are the French and Brits’ motivations in this. The French first provided the sarin evidence. The Brits confirmed, then we followed
Whenever I see McCain on TV I cringe.[/quote]
The French and the British are watching the Russians, who are playing their own version of the Great Game. Russians are seeking to exploit this opportunity to push back on a US-led effort to contain Iran, as well as push Russian interests in the arms and energy markets.
Putin would enjoy nothing more than watching Obama and the US get humiliated.
As far as Saudi influence goes, it’s huge but it’s also quiet. Spend some time in Amman, or Dubai or, better yet, Qatar, to really see it at work. Israeli focus is on putting Iranian hardliners out of business (both for the nuke threat and support for Hezbollah and Hamas). Saudis are playing a longer game and seeing the Alawites in Syria get shown the door fits into their long-term strategy.
