If you want dumb analysis on the Middle East, the Western press is here to serve

"Many Shiites support Assad because his regime is dominated by Alawites, an offshoot sect of Shiite Islam."  The writer does not even know that for Shi`ites `Alawites are not even Shi`ites. But who cares about facts, damn it.  So when Shi`ites in Lebanon expressed wide support for Chavez was because Chavez is `Alawite too? (thanks Basim)