The idea that someone might swoon over Zakaria's analysis of Syria is just depressing. The man couldn't find his own buttocks with both hands and a GPS signal, I say. Yet he says we should not intervene in Syria as Zakaria strokes the wisdom of President Obama for staying out (does Zakaria still hope for a position in the second term of the administration?).
We don't have to "own" Syria if we intervene. I don't think we need to impose a no-fly zone or otherwise strike Syrian targets, let alone send in ground troops. Our intervention can consist of sending arms to rebels, humanitarian aid to Syrians outside of Assad's control, and pressure to get Assad to go into exile so that even an Alawite mini-state might evolve away from alliance with Iran.
The idea that attempting to influence events to our favor and against Iran means we own the outcome is just ridiculous.
Because you know what Zakaria's analysis going back to the post-Ottoman Empire settling of borders and minority regimes in the region fails to mention? Iran.
Zakaria completely ignores Iran's interests and actions right now in Syria, perhaps eating up time on the video with his absolutely fascinating discussion of minority regimes. We have an interest in giving our enemy Iran a bloody nose and reducing their influence in the region by destroying the Assad regime, which achieves a bank shot of also weakening Hezbollah and Hamas.
Freaking idiot. I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue.
UPDATE: I didn't think Syria was a simple case of the Alawites being put in charge after World War I. My memory was that it was far more recent. Alawite domination was a more nuanced process than Zakaria makes it out.
And now that I think about it, Lebanon wasn't a case of Christians being put in control of the entire country, but a confessional system that reserved power to religious groups. The problem was that Christian demographics shrank while their share of power didn't, thus making maintenance the system less acceptable.
Why Zakaria has any fans is beyond me.
UPDATE: Humanitarian help for the rebels will be easier:
The United States on Wednesday eased restrictions on exports to opposition-held areas in Syria to help rebuild shattered infrastructure in a move U.S. officials said will help facilitate oil sales from rebel-controlled areas.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signed a limited waiver of the Syria Accountability Act, allowing companies to apply for export license for such things as software, technology, water purification, food and agricultural equipment, and construction materials to opposition-held areas.
Now we just need to arm rebels and provide Secretary Kerry with a brain. And a spine.
