Syrian rebel leader: U.S. will Act When War Widens

[leveymg]

2. Iraq is also again in a civil war formented by the same Saudi and GCC-financed Jihadi paramilitary.

I am afraid Mr. Sabra may be right about regional war. It's already broken out. But, frankly, what exactly the US and the Europeans intend to do about that is very much an open question.

At the moment, if the west wanted to deescalate violence and spillover of religious war, we would pressure the Saudis and the Qataris. But, that would have a set of costs. They are the only ones we have any conceivable leverage over. The other course would be to wade further into the middle of things on the side of the Sunnis. But, that would probably lead to open war with Iran and its Shi'ia allies, which would have its own set of costs.

There is a third and last option: when you don't like your cards and the deal you're being pressured into, cut your losses and walk away from the table. Take the Russians and NATO with you. Freeze the global accounts of all the combatants and their material supporters.