War In Syria: The Stakes For Iran, Jordan, Israel, Russia, And Lebanon

A Free Syrian Army fighter carries his weapon as he stands on rubble of damaged buildings in the al-Aseela neighborhood near Aleppo's historic citadel September 13, 2013. Nour Kelze/Reuters

War in Syria: The Stakes For Iran -- Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor

Iran sees the war in Syria as crucial to its own interests, and sees the conflict as a proxy war to prevent the spread of 'arrogant' US influence in the region.

Part of a series of articles looking at the regional interests at stake in Syria's civil war. The full list is on the left of your screen.

As Syria’s closest regional ally for decades, Iran is doing all it can to prevent the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that “fire” will engulf the Mideast if US forces strike.

Senior Iranian officials consider Syria the indispensable center of the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance” to US and Israeli influence in the Middle East, a key strategic bridge that for three decades has served as a link to the frontline with Israel and as a conduit to arm and support Hezbollah and Palestinian militant groups.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: For what is at stake for the other countries, check the list below .... 

• War in Syria: The stakes for Jordan
• War in Syria: The stakes for Israel
• War in Syria: The stakes for Russia
• War in Syria: The stakes for Lebanon

Read More

Is The Arab World On The Brink Of Radicalization

The Arab World Is On The Brink Of Radicalizing -- Defense One

As the Egyptian military consolidates control by murdering pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters and declaring a state of emergency, we may be witnessing the most dangerous potential for Arab radicalization since the two Palestinian intifadas. Despite the resignation Wednesday of Mohamed ElBaradei, the vice president, in opposition to the Egyptian junta's action, the discomfiting fact is that most of Egypt's liberal "democrats"—along with the United States—have never looked more hypocritical. If the bloody crackdown is allowed to continue while the U.S. and West do nothing, the actions of the Egyptian military could de-legitimize democratic change in the Arab world for a generation or more.

And for Washington, a dream that began with the neoconservative push to turn Iraq into a "model democracy" after the 2003 invasion—the somewhat naïve Western hope that the Arab nations would catch up with the rest of the world—may already be dead. Worse, the loss of moderate Islamist alternatives, and the failure of democracy, could supply al-Qaida with its biggest recruiting campaign since 9/11.

Read more ....

My Comment: The entire Arab world is either experiencing political/economic chaos or .... like Syria .... in a state of complete civil war .... so ....  it is hard to see how even more radicalization can occur in such an environment .... but I will concede that there is a chance.

Read More