Of course the Saudis are the reason why we feel Assad has to go in the first place. It's not that we think barrel bombs kick more ass than our standard half-ton ordinance. The Assads/Syria have been in a cold war with arab monarchy (SA, Jordan) for years.
I am fascinated-------I did not know about that "cold war" between Syria and Saudi Arabia-----in what manner did it manifest itself? --------I do know that the bloody scum murderous assads were brought on the carpet for
murdering Syrian civilians by the Arab League-----and I believe that Syria was suspended for a time for
murdering muslims------is that your issue?
I understand Baathists are inherently opposed to monarchs. Wasn't the arab league founded for that reason? Wasn't Egypt and Syria aligned with the USSR while Jordan and SA were aligned with the US? Doesn't assad keep assassinating Saudi surrogates? Don't the Saudis support the revolt in Syria?
The arab league was formed to provide political power for arab countries in the same way NATO was formed
to create a bloc. Baathists are devoted to an ideology of intensive ARAB nationalism ----the celebration
of "ARAB CULTURE" as something superior to that of others-------it is very similar to ARYAN NATIONALISM----to wit-------NAZISM and was actually INSPIRED by Nazism. It also claims to be SOCIALIST and supportive of "LABOR" over industry which simply gets nationalized-------a program inspired by ADOLF
HITLER. It is also intensely anti semitic and insists upon genocide upon jews-----------now you know.
Russia has been very supportive of Baathist leaders-------the most intensive Baathist in the past 70 years have
been NASSER, SADDAM and the ASSAD BOYS--------many terrorists have been Baathists. The reason
for Russian support of Baathism is quite a discussion-------likely because of the commonalty between Russian
totalitarianism and Baathist totalitarianism--------both SEEK a kind of totalitarian REICH aka CALIPHATE----the claim that baathism is "secular" and "pro-democracy" is window dressing
I think the secular component of it is legit, to wit Iraq under sadam vs the islamic state mentality that middle eastern democracy seems to default to. It's a brutal alternative to brutal monarchial suppression like the Shah. The anti-american mentality out there makes these societies allergic to all the civic principles that work. All that's left is islamic principles and hitler talk.
ok----you really do not know------BAATHISM is actually INTENSE ARAB MUSLIM NATIONALISM-----along
with a bit of a accommodation to Christians which allows Christians to JOIN-----to be part of the IMPERIALIST
FORCE of the arab nationalist state. In fact----it is very similar in that respect to the original ISLAM---
Islam allows the participation of both Christians and jews-------as a people actually subservient to the
ARAB STATE-----and eventually to be obliterated because the muslim arab always has FIRST CLASS
status so that social mobility relates to conversion to islam. Now you know. Baathism recaps all the
glorious aspects of ADOLF STYLE NAZISM. Its orginators were avid fans of Adolf its followers continued
the tradition. The UP side is that it provides a sense of GREAT PRIDE and optimism for arabs-----
which is attractive to those Christians in arab lands who have not yet experienced the down side. The
movement that took off a few years ago ----the ARAB SPRING------was very aptly titled------if you
ever saw the play or movie "THE PRODUCERS"