Behold Our Strategery in Syria

We refused to decisively support Syrian rebels first out of an assumption that we didn't need to do anything to cement Assad's fall; and then because we didn't want to encourage Sunni jihadis in Syria by helping them defeat Assad. We'll get Sunni and Shia jihadis aplenty from our refusal to act.

Assad didn't just roll over and go despite our president calling for him to step aside. Instead, Assad took Iran's and Russia's help and is slaughtering and starving his way to victory (and we call it a victory because Assad ruled out using poison gas). Assad is a long way from victory, but jihadis are growing in strength in Syria.

Indeed, after the thought of jihadis having an outsized role in defeating Assad, we must now face the possibility that an Assad victory would spread losing Sunni jihadis across the region (and even back to Europe, for that matter).

Now behold the effect of Saudi Arabia concluding we have no interest in defeating Assad:

The House of Saud is now training its own fighters to stabilize the situation in Syria. They envision a force of 40,000 to 50,000 Sunni fighters capable of defeating the regime of President Assad and counterbalancing Islamist rebel groups that are affiliated with al-Qaida. King Abdullah has enlisted the help of veteran foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal. and former Ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan. More troubling, however, is the House of Saud recruiting Pakistan to train Saudi fighters.

So we get more jihadis! Sure, Saudi Arabia hopes these are tame jihadis, but that really isn't possible. Assad thought he had tame Sunni jihadis when he funneled them into Iraq to kill our side.

Heck, Saudi Arabia is based on the notion that they can base their legitimacy on tame jihadis. They've kept them tame at home (after an ugly fight inside Saudi Arabia against the feral kind after we invaded Iraq in 2003). We shall see if their new effort can avoid blowback inside the kingdom.

So whether Assad wins or loses (and whether either is from war or diplomacy), we get more Sunni jihadis. We should have understood from the beginning--as I argued--that this was true and that defeating Assad was just the first problem we had to resolve.

And don't forget the Shia foreign legion that Iran has recruited to fight for Assad.

It's jihadis all around. Enjoy the fruits of nuance, smart diplomacy, and a deep understanding of strategery.

UPDATE: About Europe:

Between 1,500 and 2,000 youths have gone to Syria where rebels are fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, they told a joint press conference.

The next time Clichy-sous-Bois erupts, what will the goal be?