"... America’s prime geopolitical objective in Syria is to break once and for all the alliance between the Assad regime and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has allowed Tehran to extend its influence into Lebanon and, via Hezbollah, to threaten Israel itself. To this end, and despite the claims that Washington is “doing nothing” in Syria, the United States has been providing communications and logistical support to the opposition, while U.S. allies in the region have been providing them with funds and weaponry. But even if America did not lift a finger to help the rebels defeat Assad, any successor government in Damascus -- especially one that represented the interests of the country’s Sunni majority -- would move to terminate the alliance with Shiite Iran.
To the extent that the United States is also concerned about the resurgence of Russian influence in the Middle East, a new Syrian regime would probably shut down Russia’s naval base at Tartus, whether or not the rebels receive significant aid from Washington. Moscow has shown steadfast support for Assad, including arms sales and its all-important U.N. Security Council veto, which continues to provide a diplomatic shield to the regime in Damascus. So if the opposition succeeds in overthrowing Assad, Russia will lose its geopolitical foothold in Syria -- and, with it, Moscow’s last springboard from which to project power in the region -- no matter what the U.S. does......... Washington should not base its approach to Syria on whether or not it expects the opposition, once installed in power, to be “grateful."..."
Uprooted Palestinian 
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