The Syrian forces are bombarding rebel-held areas to allow foreign cannon fodder to sweep in:
Iraqi and Lebanese Shi'ite militia backed by Syrian army firepower overran a southern suburb of Damascus on Wednesday, opposition activists said, in a blow to Sunni Muslim rebels trying to hold onto strategic outskirts of the capital.
At least 20 rebels were killed when Hezbollah guerrillas and Iraqi militiamen captured the town of Sheikh Omar under cover of Syrian army artillery and tank fire and aerial bombardment, the activists said, with tens of Shi'ite fighters killed or wounded.
This helps clear up Assad's supply lines to points south of the capital.
I've read that Syria's infantry has been crippled by casualties and that they've attempted to replace these relatively trained troops with militias, Hezbollah, and a Shia foreign legion organized and paid by Iran. The regular army combat support personnel who tend to take far fewer losses continue to man the artillery units.
But could there really be this many foreigners fighting for Assad:
Regional security officials say up to 60,000 fighters from Iraq, Iran and Yemen and Hezbollah are present in Syria supporting Assad, whose Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.
Good grief. Is that possible? Our troop strength in Afghanistan for the vast majority of that war was less than that. I sincerely doubt there are that many.
Maybe that many have gone there for short tours of a few months (or until death), but I have difficulty believing that many volunteers are fighting for Assad. Assad organized a Syrian militia of about that size, I think.
And regardless of the numbers, they won't be well trained and will suffer heavy casualties. Which is why I suspect these guys come in for short tours--do your Shia religious duty in Assad's military, cash your check, and go home before you get buried in Syria.
But regardless, rejoice in our foreign policy triumph! Assad is giving up chemical weapons that he can't use in decisive amounts because even President Obama would feel compelled to intervene if Assad used them in large numbers. Instead Assad uses the time it will take to destroy these weapons to pound the rebels, secure in the knowledge that American will not attack while the "success" of destroying chemical weapons continues.
Good God. John Kerry makes Madeleine Albright look like a freaking genius at foreign policy.
