another perspective on Syria

"" "It's a propaganda war," said Cengiz Günay, a Middle East expert at the Austrian Institute for International Politics. "There's always talk of an 'Alawi' regime," he added, "But drawing the lines through Syrian society isn't that simple." Günay believes it's because of the conflict increasingly touching on religious issues that many Alawi don't see any other way than to cling to the Assad regime. "They fear for their lives, should the regime fall," he said." "But it's not only the Alawi who feel threatened by both sides. Most religious minorities in Syria are suffering increasing attacks by radical Islamists. That's why many of those who are part of a minority don't support the opposition, but the regime. The military, too, and the mostly intact structures of the establishment continue to support Assad.""