Cheerleading A Civil War

I’m not sure why CBS News thinks that the civil war in Syria is so important that it needs to run a lengthy segment on it every single night on its Evening News. The content is predictable; we will be told that Syria does not allow reporters to enter the country but that CBS has uniquely and fearlessly managed to risk the life of a intrepid reporter who is “with the valiant freedom fighters tonight.” After a reference to the “popular uprising against the Assad dictatorship,” we will be informed by interviews with sobbing and terrified civilians who are escaping from the areas ravaged by the savage government militias and army forces. We will be reminded that the rebels are armed only with rifles, while Assad’s forces have tanks, artillery and helicopters.

Several times per week we will be treated to a member of the government saying that “it is time for Assad to step down.” He’s hardly likely to do that under any circumstances, of course, but he certainly isn’t going to take that advice from our government, so…

Most of what you read in the American media is utter horse manure. I have been following the progress of this civil war at Sic Semper Tyrannis; reading the writing and comments of people who have served in that area for many years and who are not blinded by ideology. One commenter made some remark about troops “willing to fight for Assad,” and Colonel Lang replied,

This war is not about Bashar Assad's personal rule. It is a civil war between the more traditional Sunni Arabs, the Alawis, the Shia and the Christians and Sunni jihadis both home grown and foreign.

That sums up in a nutshell the confusing picture that is Syria. American media wants you to believe that Assad has no significant support within his population, but that is not only untrue, but the side fighting against what CBS News calls the “popular uprising” is a significant portion of the nation. If the rebels win then Christians, for instance, will be slaughtered, but it’s unclear that the rebels represent anything even close to a majority.

Reality: this is a distant civil war which has nothing to do with us.