Syria

[zoe76]

Could someone please explain the situation in Syria? I know so many people blaming the government and Bashar Al Assad for terrorising the people, yet also lots who blame the people for causing the conflict. TIA

[Mosaic]

Syria has long borders with other Arab countries and these borders often cut across territories regarding as one entity by tribal groups. So people hopping to and fro from Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan are impossible to police.
Many of these people are from groups and / or religious sects that hold extreme views, such as the Druze, Alawi and Shia Islamic groups from Iraq in particular. The Shia have long had a cult of personal martyrdom, giving rise to the Nizari 'assassins' and the present numerous extremist groups.
Most Syrian Muslims are more moderate traditionalists - 'Sunni' Muslims, and pockets of Shia follwers were interspersed across the oases of the interior of Syria until the recent conflicts started.
Syria also has (or had) many Christian sects and Damascus for example had both Christian and Jewish residents as well as Muslims. Many of these were ethnically Arab.
Ethnically most Syrians are Arab but there are (or were) areas that held predominantly Kurd and other minoritis such as Turkmen and Circassian.

Like anywhere these many different groups have rubbed along more or less but since the 1960s the number of extremists getting into Syria via Lebanon has increased.

Assad's family are Alawi Muslims, a sect that was shunned by most other Muslims in the area and which in response has become secretive. Assad appears to have little regard for any of the people of Syria or preserving its diversity.

I suppose it's what it might have been like under the Normans in England, but with high-powered technology.

[zoe76]

I just write long answer to you mosaic including a joke about alawi tribe but lost connection and it disappeared but thank you so much that's a lot easier to understand than links I found I'm our friend google

[ToraToraTora]

I can describe this and a lot of the worlds problems in 1 word - Religion.

[New Judge]

aka utter lunacy.

[Mosaic]

If it was only religion it would be easier to resolve. The really sad part is that Syria and Lebanon are beautiful places and could give the tourist industry a good caning if they'd only establish a fair and stable government.

[ToraToraTora]

they wont want their land defiled by the infidel!

[Mosaic]

In my experience Tora these feelings tend to melt away when tourist dollars are in the offing.

[naomi24]

Mosaic, in this instance, don't hold your breath. Religion is paramount.

[ichkeria]

I am not sure exactly what you want to know. There's no substitute for the boring answer of reading up lots about it e.g. on Wikipedia.
Assad and his ruling dynasty are pretty much 100% to blame for the situation there now, yes. Faced with peaceful demands for reform they completely overreacted with mass murder (or genocide if you prefer) and the situation quickly deteriorated into a tribal battle, not helped by the shameful inaction of Obama and the connivance and support of his ally Putin.
With the consequences we now see: all out war spreading to other regions.

[zoe76]

Thanks ichkeria, just basically who was the bad guy in all this.

I agree with you naomi on that. Religion is cause for so many conflicts. I have vague memory of being taught at school about the doomsday scenario, something about the 'East' aided by the 'West' causing massive war and then boom, we're all dead. What a load of biblical codswallop'