Friedman: Beware Syria

The New York Times' Tom Friedman is worth reading when he writes about the Middle East, as he does here. He takes a sweeping look at the unrest in the region, characterizes most of it as young people wanting out from under old regimes, and hopes for its success without too much violence.

Friedman sees the unrest in Syria as unlike that of other countries of the region; that is, more dangerous:

Syria is the keystone of the Levant. It borders and balances a variety of states, sects and ethnic groups. If civil war erupts there, every one of Syria’s neighbors will cultivate, and be cultivated by, different Syrian factions — Sunnis, Alawites, Kurds, Druse, Christians, pro-Iranians, pro-Hezbollahites, pro-Palestinians, pro-Saudis — in order to try to tilt Syria in their direction. Turkey, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iraq, Iran, Hamas, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel all have vital interests in who rules in Damascus.