As aptly pointed out by journalist Jenan Moussa this (may I add the term SO CALLED) strike allows all parties to save face.
It would seem that some empty concrete has been churned over and everyone including both Assad and Trump are crowing victory. As the AFR article by Liz Sly stated
"US-led strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities prompted defiant celebrations in Damascus on Saturday as it became clear that the limited attack posed no threat to President Bashar al-Assad's hold on power and would likely have no impact on the trajectory of the Syrian war. "
And so the world's trolls, activists, MSM , politicians and just everyone else was turning in hysterical circles because we didn't know what was to happen next. NOTHING OF CONSEQUENCE HAPPPENED (thus far).
A lot of expensive fireworks have been released by both sides. THAT'S ALL. MOVE ON FOLKS!
Now that the hormones have been released it would be wise to point key non-jihadist Syrian parties to the negotiating table.
I don't see Idlib or Afrin are part of Syria any more. They may as well be redefined as sovereign Turkish territory because they will never be returned to Syria in our lifetimes. These badlands will (as a consequence of extended Russian and US greed and stupidity) foster global terrorism, female enslavement and pre-Islamic based misinterpretations of Islam within an Al Qaeda styled totalitarian construct for generations to come. Many people there will suck it up as they know no better it seems.
The rest of Syria can and should reconcile however the Alawite led regime cannot do it alone and neither can the Kurdish influenced Sunni regime of Northern Syria. After all of this time Assad's pro-Iran idiots don't have either clue or a road map. The tiny Northern Federation does have a clue and a roadmap but sits in a vice grip between major global powers, none of whom are at all concerned with the re-empowerment of actual Syrians or the development of governance structures that may actually work. They don't know and with a few exceptions they don't care.
Mindsets need to change. Changing them is the greatest challenge imaginable.
