Military action not an option

Despite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's increasing violence against his people there is no chance of the West launching a military intervention against his regime, writes the liberal business paper De Tijd: "Unlike Libya Syria is in the middle of the most explosive region in the world. And while Colonel Gaddafi was pretty isolated even within his own region the Assad clan has been very successful in the past decade in playing off powerful neighbours like Israel, Turkey, Iran and Iraq against each other. In the case of Syria underlining the condemnations with military action like in Libya is not an option. Assad's regime can still count on sufficient support from the regional superpower Iran. An abrupt change of regime would also destroy the fragile balance between the different minority groups. The prospect of a second Iraq is not tempting for anyone."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Syria
All available articles from » Bas Kurstjens

» To the complete press review of Monday, August 15, 2011