The End of Assad? Syrian Rebels enter the outskirts of Aleppo for the first time since 2016

What the west held after the Taliban were removed (and no one was more delighted to see them go, as the Afghans themselves, which was well proven by the nrs of burnt out Taliban 4x4's on the roads to Kandahar) was a sea of inter-connected Clans and families.Something that was not well understood by the US, or indeed by any of the invaders down through the year's. Each of these Families /Clans controlled an area, and nothing moved through their territority without their permission. And thats how it was.

How does this all work?

Who’s going to run the police or pay the wages of the Syrian government workers for example with rebels controlling most of Syria?

The US didn't invade Afghanistan with the intention to "control" it

You are living in an absolute fantasy world if you believe that.

The Americans went into Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban because of 9/11. After that they then installed a government more suited to their interests. They stayed there for twenty years (mostly on the inertia of 9/11), throwing good money after bad in supporting the puppet regime they installed. After 20 unsuccessful years of occupation had passed, Biden decided it wasn't worth it anymore. The ink wasn't even dry on the announcement that the US were pulling out before the whole rotten edifice that they tried to build up came crumbling down.

Afghanistan is the ultimate example of the fallacy of sunk costs, or in layman's terms, when you're in a hole, stop digging yourself deeper.

Russia are in exactly the same situation as what the Americans were in at Afghanistan. They are trying to prop up a regime that no one really wants, and they are paying a high cost to do so. The US had no strategic interest whatsoever in being in Afghanistan, just like the Russians have no interest at all in being in Syria.

I wonder is Putin secretly relieved at the Syrian collapse. It's long been a zombie corpse that he's committed himself to. If Assad goes, then I imagine he will send thoughts and prayers and quite happily sever the relationship.

Some of the administration duties the opposition would have had a degree of experience with. Idlib was largely acting as a state within a state for several years. The Assad regime was fairly notorious for its corruption, so the bar is quite low to start with . Time will tell of course.

Not the most glamorous roles but important none the less.

This is like watching an old lion wander into the Savannah to lay down and die

With Turkey being the main backer of the rebels offensive, things aren't looking good for the Kurds.

This looks like the best opportunity Turkey's ever had to take care of their "Kurdish Problem".

Don't think Trump is too bothered about the Kurds, so there could be another betrayal coming soon.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-smells-russian-and-iranian-blood-syria-rebel-offensive-poses-challenges-kurdish-ally

Have you ever lived or worked there Francie? Because I did, for several years. I was there when Bin Laden bombed the twin towers, and after wards, when the Taliban were kicked out, when the Loya Jirga was called to select the new government. Do you know what a Loya Jirga is Francie? its an all Afghanistan tribal meeting, where important matters are discussed and decided on. and this was where the new post Taliban government was decided on also. NOTE Francie, Afghans decided on their own government according to their own laws, not the US or anyone else. The US then started modernising Afghanistan. They rebuilt the health services and schools. For many women, it was the first time in their lives that they went to school, all the way up to university. They were allowed to live and work outside the home, they didn't need a male guardian to be with them at all times. They rebuilt and repaired all the main roads and bridges; they began a training program for the Afghan military and police forces, with the ultimate aim of Afghans being independent. I lived in two Afghanistan's Francie, the Taliban one and the US Free Afghan one, and I can tell you, that the US Free Afghanistan state was as different as chalk and cheese to the Taliban one, no more Taliban thugs riding around in their jeeps, armed to the teeth, terrorising people. And now the Taliban horror story is back again, as foul as ever, despite all the agreements and treaties signed with Trump, but not the Afghan Government?. Tell me Francie, who supported the Taliban and kept then alive and active all those years? Who benefitted from that?

Another SAA withdrawal.

Are they going to make stand here or what's going on?

Also what will happen with the costal regions?

The common denominator all of these different groups had and that bound them together was the removal of the Assad regime, when that's achieved, you will see the different groups splitting along the lines based on the conditions that originally formed them as groups.

Yeah.

"Best" case scenario might be the balkanization @Danzy posted up earlier:

@ mods

Let's get Assad and the HTS and regional leaders in on this thread, make it happen.

Lol....yes....naval exercises.

Also,

Rebels planning Special Military Operation on Damascus