but because there's a globe-spanning oligarchic empire to which Syria has refused to submit.

a plan to use Syria's supreme location to place itself at the center of a regional energy and transportation system and become an economic superpower.

but whoever manages to secure control over this location will be able to achieve the same lucrative energy and transportation control for themselves.

allying itself instead with the unabsorbed nations of Russia and Iran. This has made it the epicenter of a giant global imperialist struggle the implications of which stretch far beyond its borders to the rest of the world.

but to control its oil fields.

These are some of your key points in your debate. This goes back to statements I've made before....that decisions are based on the overall outcome in the future towards the worlds overall well being. Be honest, he did choose to align himself with countries that a majority of countries don't want to see become super power super hubs over them. That's exactly what would have happened here. Given we are talking about a man who can't even seem to balance out his own countries citizens to live in peace who in their right mind would want to see him obtaining the power of persuasion over other countries? Be realistic, he had the money, he had the resources just like anyone else but he couldn't maintain peace within his own borders and we're going to let him waltz in and become a regional superpower over others that extended well beyond his borders?

Resources brings profits, profits bring military might, military might brings submission...it's which side of that submission you want to be on. For a whole lot of people not just regionally decided he wasn't it for them.

Assad can stand there with mud all over his face doing a Hillary Clinton of excuses if he so desires but those willing to look outside the box knows the US hasn't taken control of all the oil. Those willing to look outside the box can also ask themselves why has the warring stopped?...why isn't Russia and Iran rushing to save his precious natural resources? Those willing to look outside the box can also ask why would anyone just let Turkey control the border?

Maybe, just maybe that the super powers finally determined you can't control the internal forces within a country let alone their resources. Doesn't matter who you align yourself with, that just isn't good enough, in the end there will always be those internal problems plaguing you, the leaders inability to maintain peace among the status quo.

Maybe, just maybe out of a coincidence of coming to work against a threat bigger than themselves they may have discovered this temporary solution could actually lead to better answers. When Obama basically said to Russia you take that side and we'll take this side they found a way to a common ground...like I said there was no way the US could be on both sides of the fence, if we can come together to fight a threat bigger than ourselves why can't we come together and work towards solutions to the underlying problems plaguing middle east countries...their own hatred towards each other.

When Trump came along it was just a matter of how can we make this work. They found an alternative route for the natural gas pipeline while Syria can still build a pipeline with Russia. This keeps them from total domination over European countries in the future but also allows the free distribution of choice among other countries and will have the effect of being competitive and price controls. Russia and Syria can work towards producing oil in other area's of Syria while the US secures oil in parts of Syria that will go towards securing a financial means to take care of other minorities in the country. This is the kind of give and take that ultimately if it works out will lead to real solutions. Everybody gets something out of it.

Turkey?....Turkey is a prime example of being geographical located and the kind of power that can come with. Like saying I am going to do whatever I want to do....and what did you say you are going to do about it?....puf,puf,puf pleezzze, excuse yourselves. I am going to continue to hate just because I can.

No we don't need anymore Turkey's we need real solutions.