# Who Is Winning In Syria? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 30, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316 "2012-10-30T12:33:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/221 "2014-05-29T01:48:28Z")
Voting has begun and as expected Assad is pretty much the only option. Sounds like a lot of people are sick of what the rebellion has become and see Assad as their best chance for some peace. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle\_east/syrians-abroad-vote-in-presidential-election/2014/05/28/f93fd7bc-e62f-11e3-a70e-ea1863229397\_story.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrians-abroad-vote-in-presidential-election/2014/05/28/f93fd7bc-e62f-11e3-a70e-ea1863229397_story.html) ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/222 "2014-05-29T14:46:07Z")
The only winners in Syria are arms dealers and mercenaries. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/223 "2014-05-29T15:12:47Z")
And Putin, but I suppose he falls into the first category. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/224 "2014-05-29T16:30:37Z")
From the link: > [@](#): > > They said Obama has not yet given approval for the initiative, and that there is still internal discussion about its merits and potential risks. Emphasis added. Ya think??? ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/225 "2014-05-29T20:40:37Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What is the “Algeria option”? Back in the 90’s when Algeria had a full blown civil war, the military leadership infiltrated various Islamist groups and encouraged more brutality to ensure that they would eventually lose all popular support, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were doing that same tactic right now in Syria. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/226 "2014-05-30T01:50:43Z")
[Bashar al-Assad posts a letter of support from a Virginia state senator](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/05/27/bashar-al-assad-posts-a-letter-of-support-from-a-virginia-state-senator/) Sen. Richard Black praises Assad for defending and saving Christians and fighting Al Qaeda, our common enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/227 "2014-05-30T04:21:49Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Back in the 90’s when Algeria had a full blown civil war, the military leadership infiltrated various Islamist groups and encouraged more brutality to ensure that they would eventually lose all popular support, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were doing that same tactic right now in Syria. It worked the other way too: According to the Dangerous Places book the rebels also infiltrated the government. And then sometime the government would dress as rebels and sometimes the rebels would dress as government, and sometimes the rebels would work with the government. And there were two major rebel groups. If someone got whacked it was nearly impossible to figure out who did it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/228 "2014-05-30T14:58:45Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Back in the 90’s when Algeria had a full blown civil war, the military leadership infiltrated various Islamist groups and encouraged more brutality to ensure that they would eventually lose all popular support, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were doing that same tactic right now in Syria. Ah; so, the _agent provocateur_ option. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316/229 "2014-06-27T16:25:31Z")
[Obama is asking Congress for $500 million to train and arm “vetted” Syrian rebels.](http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/26/obama-seeks-500mtotrainequipsyriarebels.html) This is shaking out into a multi-sided war like the Lebanese Civil War. The Syrian rebels are fighting each other as well as the government. The U.S. is still against Assad but also against ISIS. Iran is for Assad but against ISIS. And so on. It’s hard to see how that can end well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-winning-in-syria/639316.md?page=11)