A year ago or so, the Syrian civil war was about overthrowing President Assad and bringing some sort of democracy to the country. But as many predicted at the time, the war has morphed into a sectarian nightmare that could fuel similar eruptions all across the Middle East. David Brooks: The Syrian civil conflict is both a proxy war and a combustion point for spreading waves of violence. This didn't start out as a religious war. But both Sunni and Shiite power players are seizing on religious symbols and sowing sectarian passions that are rippling across the region. The Saudi and Iranian powers hover in the background fueling each side. As the death toll in Syria rises to Rwanda-like proportions, images of mass killings draw holy warriors from countries near and far. The radical groups are the most effective fighters and control the tempo of events. The Syrian opposition groups are themselves split violently along sectarian lines so that the country seems to face a choice...(Read Full Post)