'Syria Is Not A Revolution Any More – This Is Civil War' -- Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, The Guardian
Rivalry between rebels and Islamists has replaced the uprising's lofty ideals, leaving veteran commanders despairing
For three men in northern Syria, the second civil war started shortly after the first staggered into a quagmire of sectarian violence. The goals of the first war – freedom, Islam, social equality of some sort – were replaced by betrayal, defeat and anger towards rival militias, jihadis and foreign powers fighting in Syria.
Like many others, the three men are bewildered at what has become of their war. Their alliances – and their goals – are shifting. The regime is far away, the jihadis are near – and seem unstoppable. Their resources are dwindling; their families are shattered. Their villages and farm lands are lost to regime militias. Their allies are at best unreliable, and at worst actively conspiring against them.
They are a businessman, a smuggler and an army defector who became respectively the political officer, treasurer and military commander of a once-formidable battalion in northern Syria.
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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials
Why Has the U.N. Given Assad a Free Pass on Mass Murder? -- Colum Lynch, Foreign Policy
The bloody disaster of Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan is laid bare -- Simon Jenkins, The Guardian
Will history repeat in Iran nuclear negotiations? -- David Ignatius, Washington Post
Iran's Arak nuclear reactor: Real dealbreaker or red herring? -- Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor
Iraq-Saudi ties: Another U.S. headache? -- Fahad Nazer, Special to CNN
What's at Stake This Week for US in Afghanistan -- Muhammad Lila, ABC News
Nepal’s Election May Not Lift Country’s Permanent Sense of Crisis -- Nilanjana Bhowmick, Time
Thailand’s Latest Troubles -- New York Times editorial
China & Japan Heading for a Collision -- Gideon Rachman, Financial Times
Chinese leaders control media, academics to shape the perception of China -- Fred Hiatt, Washington Post
China’s Great Firewall Won’t Be Touched by Beijing’s New Reforms -- Emily Rauhala, Time
Analysis: In China's smartphone boom, market share trumps margins -- Sayantani Ghosh and Neha Alawadhi, Reuters
How Snowden's Revelations Are Helping Russia -- Elena Chernenko, Real Clear World/Worldcrunch
Waiting to See if Ukraine Tilts East or West -- Serge Schmemann, New York Times
Defeating Zarqawi’s Dream: Sunnis backing Assad are the best defense against al-Qaeda and it affiliates in Syria. -- Andrew Doran, NRO
The danger of America’s declining moral authority -- Kristin Lord and Paul J. Saunders, Special to CNN
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