Even outside of internal pressures, geopolitics are at play as well - Iran and Russia are playing "the great game" as much as the US/NATO are in the fight against terrorism.
Even outside of internal pressures, geopolitics are at play as well - Iran and Russia are playing "the great game" as much as the US/NATO are in the fight against terrorism.
The demonstrations in Syria were not spontaneous. They were engineered. If you have time, read the email exchanges between the US ambassador to Syria and H. Clinton.
Regarding Iran and Russia playing "the great game", they're supporting the legitimate govt of that country. Without their support, Assad would have been dead years ago, and Syria would have been in worse shape than it is now.
You might start by reading https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/18328
Edit: Added WikiLeaks links
Iran is definitely playing geopolitics when they arm Houthis (fighting the internationally recognized government) with anti ship missiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Were they also not arming the Iraqi insurgents/sending military forces over the border during the height of the conflict in Iraq? How about Russia in Ukraine (are the "little green men" freedom fighters or rebels?)? Russia has more than just the support of a government in mind when it supports Syria.
I'm not saying one side is right or wrong - just that none of these actions happen in a vacuum.
And you're correct, because they don't.
My original point in all of this is that we're creating a refugees crisis, but refusing to take them in. That, in my opinion, is just evil.
It's all geopolitics...
http://wikileaks.cabledrum.net/cable/2006/12/06DAMASCUS5399....