Thank you for your article Tim Anderson. As a 'skip' I find the Syrian conflict very confusing; your article didn't explain everything, it did at least nail down some of the story in Syria. I find the Muslim Brotherhood confusing as well, whereby they offer comfort to much of the middle eastern dynamic whilst perpetrating atrocities as well and you have suggested their role in this situation.

Thanks Tim for a neat piece that covers the candidates and explores agendas.
There is no way a short article could possibly explain the Syrian nightmare and the motives of powers that play in the region. The fact that so many have died for nothing is an indictment on many factors - media lies being one. It is interesting that the agenda of 'Bashar out' continues to be supported by western media, while Syrian people (including the majority of the largest Palestinian refugee population, most of whom are now double refugees spread across the globe)have en masse not committed to any so called western interpretation of the 'Arab Spring', or Islamist Saudi or Qatar agenda. They have however suffered irreparable consequences. Families broken, homes and lives lost and hope shattered because of outside interests - I wish the Syrian people security and peace and more from you Tim please.