What is to be made of the mess that is Syria?  Does there exist a side with which America might prudently align?  To decipher this puzzle, it's important to recall a little of Syria's history and how that history continues to shape its people. Syria is a nation with a diverse collection of ethnicities and a multitude of religious affiliations.  Its capital, Damascus, is the oldest still existing city in human history.  Since 1970, when a coup led by then-family patriarch Hafez Assad brought them to power, the Assad family have enjoyed uninterrupted rule, despite repeated attempts to dislodge them. The Assads are Alawites, a small minority sect of Shia Islam.  Hafez Assad was the first Shiite head of state since the 11th century, and his ascension to power served as inspiration for the Shiite Iranian revolution less than a decade later.  Indeed, Assad sheltered Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini during part of his...(Read Full Article)