What next?

Submitted by M. Orbuch (United States), Jun 19, 2011 at 21:20

Let us assume, hypothetically, that the Assad coterie survive this insurrection; how can Erdogan frame the resumption of normalcy in light of his characterization of events as "savagery" inflicted on the the Syrian populace? The Turkish media has been regularly broadcasting events on the border and the public will likely be unreceptive about glossing over the brutality. Erdogan will also have to decide what to do with dozens, perhaps hundreds of Syrian troops who defected to the rebels and took refuge in Turkey. This alone may create an irreconcilable challenge for the nascent Syrian-Turkish military alliance ('alliance' is probably too strong of a term).

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