A chaotic mix of explosives.

Although not shy of acting as the world's policeman the US has most prudently kept out of the impending civil war in Syria. It is possible that Obama and Hilary Clinton are too intelligent to get mixed up in this ethnic and religious chaos. Syria is 90% Muslim of whom Sunni are 74%, Alawi 12%, Druze 3%. The Alawis, who are a Shia sect rule the country and hold most of the powerful positions in government. The 10% Christians are a mix of Arabs, Assyrians and Armenians. To the west, in Lebanon Muslims are 57% of whom Shia are 30-41%, Sunni 30% and Druze 5%. Christians in Lebanon are 39-43% of whom Maronites are 21%, Greek Orthodox 8% and others 4%. To the north is Turkey where Muslims are 98%, majority of whom are Sunni and 15-20 million Alawi. Christians are just 80,000 and Jews 26,000 but 15-18% of people in Turkey are Kurds who, though Muslims, are agitating for a separate homeland. To the south, Iraq has 95% Muslim of whom 65% are Shia and 35% Sunni. Christians and others make up the rest 5%. Also to the south, Jordan is 92% Muslim who are mainly Sunni, with some Druze and Bahai, and 6% Christians. A lot of Jordanians are of Palestinian origin whose entire 15 member political bureau, including chief, Khaled Mashal, lives in Damascus in Syria. Initially the Turkish Prime Minister, Erdogan was very vocal against Assad, wanting military intervention and to establish a humanitarian corridor to supply assistance, to refugees but has gone awfully quiet recently. On February 13, Syrian government forces captured 19 French soldiers in Bab Amr in Homs. Paris negotiated a backdoor release for the soldiers and french journalists embedded with Syrian rebels. HT online, April 19. Turkey tried hard to release 49 soldiers captured inside Syria but failed. Syria has also allowed the Kurds to open 2 offices in the north of the country promising trouble for Turkey if it gets too aggressive. In Lebanon, Sheikh Ahmed Abdul-Wahid, a Sunni Muslim cleric opposed to Assad was shot dead at an army checkpoint on May 23 leading to a firefight between Sunni groups for and against Assad in Tripoli killing about 15 people. Lebanese Shia pilgrims, returning from Iran, were kidnapped by unknown people inside Syria which led to a fight between Shias and Sunnis in Tripoli. The pilgrims were handed over to Turkish authorities. If all this sounds as absolute nonsense it is because no one can understand any of it, even people living in the region. Add to this madness Saudi Arabia and Qatar supporting Sunni groups while Iran supports Shia groups such as the Hezbollah in Lebanon whose chief, Hasan Nasrallah has been calling for calm, and it resembles a conglomeration of lunatics. However, all these people are one God fellows with the same God, the God of Abraham. Yet they will happily kill each other forever. And they call us Hindus heathens and kafirs.