Syrian President Bashar al-Assad starts his third term -Guardian

al-Assad speaking after being sworn in. Guardian/Reuters

Syrian President begins a third seven year term. Gaurdian/Reuters He captured 88.1% of the vote in a dubious election where only areas under regime control were able to vote. Al-Assad paints himself as a secular alternative to terrorism and extremism.

My Comment:

It's hard not to agree with al-Assad here. When the conflict began it was a much clearer case of black versus white, good versus evil. But then the Free Syrian Army started to be corrupted by the black flags of Al-Qaeda turning the conflict into grey vs black. Now, with the ascension of ISIS, which is pretty much evil incarnate, the conflict has become evil versus evil, with the forces of Al-Assad being somewhat more gray then Al-Qaeda and ISIS. All the good factions in Syria are essentially dead, as sad as it is to say.  

I almost said all the good people in Syria are dead, but humanity perseveres in even the most dire of circumstances. I am sure there are still people left that display courage, charity, compassion and love even as their world collapses around them. Pity that they are drowned out by so much evil.