The Syrian Government has unknowingly hastened the day of Assad's departure.  When the Syrian Government recently made clear it is in possession of chemical weapons and is willing to use them against foreign powers it put the final nail in Assad's coffin.  If the mass killings of the Syrian people was not enough to get the world to act threats against regional and western powers to use chemical weapons against them should cause even the most dovish and isolationist thinker to have second thoughts.  A government who would dare even hint at such an attack is not only a danger to their own people but a danger to the world.  This threat along with Iran's Nuclear ambitions and Hezbollah's willingness to carry out attacks against Israel, other western powers, and even populations within the region could be a very dangerous combination should such threats be allowed to continue without any real attempts to reduce those threats.  Nuclear and chemical weapons in the hands of dictators in Iran and Syria with a paramilitary like force of Hezbollah to do their bidding is a very frightening thought.  Some will say this threat is overblown but one thing is for sure to fail to respond to such threats with an adequate response will only allow such threats to grow exponentially over time.

Now let me make this very clear so I will not be misinterpreted each of those three threats requires a much different response.  A major military action against Iran would be throwing a smoke bomb in a hornets nest.  It would likely lead to a major war far surpassing any war since Vietnam and the casualties just on the Allies side could be just as high.  It would be a mistake unparalleled in United States history and would cause major upheaval in the region far surpassing the present.  Such a threat of nuclear ambitions and saber rattling against the State of Israel must be strongly condemned, constantly monitored, responded to by tightening of sanctions and further isolation of Iran's government from the world, with it being made perfectly clear an attack on Israel or any other in the region or world will be met with an overwhelming and devastating attack against the regime.  The world can not allow those who wish for the elimination of an entire country off the face of the map ever to acquire nuclear weapons.  For in only one weapon of adequate size placed in a large population center in Israel or any other nation in the region could cause mass casualties not seen since WWII.  This is too great a risk to ignore and must be constantly accessed to see what changes are needed in policy depending on the state of the Nuclear program currently in operation.

When it comes to Hezbollah and similar anti-US/Israel/West and anti-regional players friendly to the US/Israel/West this is a much less centralized, more scattered, and more mobile threat.  This threat can be one place today and somewhere else tomorrow.  There is no pattern to their terrorist and hostile attacks just more based on the opportunities to carry out attacks.  There is often much infighting; while they agree on the enemies they often disagree on tactics and operations.  Therefore it is difficult to predict future actions and changes in strategy and targets.  What is known is they will continue targeting the aforementioned nations with stealth attacks, often by proxy attacks against the nations strategic partners and interest.  Their goal is clear to create a wide region where a very radical version of Shi'a Islam becomes the prevailing ideology and what governments and law is based on and of course Israel and its allies ceasing to exist.  Outside of heavily Shi'a areas in the Middle East where radical factions reside Hezbollah is widely seen as a harmful influence that is dangerous to the region by the majority of Muslims.  Both the Iranian and Syrian Governments have strong ties to Hezbollah and offer them money, weapons, aide, political cover, and other support.  They are as much of threat to moderate Islam and regional governments as they are to Israel and its allies.  They must be fought and pursued by breaking apart planed operations, sanctions and penalties against members of the organization, not be allowed safe havens by regional powers, widely criticized by regional and international voices, and even targeted assassinations in extreme cases where they present a clear and present danger.  Dialog with Hezbollah and similar groups will only be possible if they stop committing acts of terrorism and other atrocities.

As far as Syria goes I believe in limited and cautious military intervention by the United States and allies both in Europe and regional players.  Bashar al-Assad, his regime, and pro Assad militants have been responsible for the murder of nearly 18,000 Syrian men, women, and children the vast majority of which are Sunni followed by a significant number of Kurds and a few of other populations including Shiites, Christians, and even some Alawites who have turned against the regime.  Early on and continuing he has sent countless numbers of mostly younger men to prisons scattered around Syria to be tortured for speaking out against the Assad regime a number of which do not come out alive, he has ordered death squads to come in and wipe out entire neighborhoods sparing not even the little children, he has ordered females captured to be raped, he has ordered men's throats to be cut out who sang chants against him,  he has ordered shelling of homes, businesses, crops, and places of public gatherings and places of worship, he has ordered these crimes for over 16 months.  His regimes crimes have gotten more severe, depraved, and more merciless as time has gone on many of the latest crimes involved the injury and deaths of many women and children.  He has proven throughout this time he can not be reasoned with and that even the most innocent and defenseless will be targeted and murdered.  There is no reasoning with such violent madness, he will not stop ordering these crimes until he flees, is captured, or killed.  A limited and cautious military intervention of the United States and allies would merely be the final push to topple a crumbling but increasingly ruthless regime.  Doing nothing of such a nature will likely mean many more months of fighting and tens of thousands if not greater numbers dead.

In closing it is very apparent that we face as a world incredible challenges both within Syria and beyond, that will likely grow more severe in time if more is not done.  Assad can not be allowed to escape justice and be allowed to remain in power any longer then can be avoided.  The quicker he is overthrown from his throne and the Assad dynasty never allowed to rule again the better.  Assad's regime should be hewn down and cast into the garbage heap of history of failed ideas and institutions.  Never again should a tyrannical lineage be allowed to oppress Syria for over forty years, never again shall men, women, and children be victims of this ruthless regime, never again will those who commit such crimes against humanity escape judgement.  In time the wounds will begin to heal even those that cut deep into the human heart and Syria will rise into being a great nation.  A nation where hope is once again present, where all have a voice, where the power of the vote replaces the power of the sword, where men, women, and children are awarded the human rights, liberty, and dignity they are long overdue.  All who now mourn will in time find peace and the hurts deep within the hearts of the small to the great will be allowed to heal and be replaced with overwhelming feelings of peace and good will.  For all will know the dark days of the past have passed away and the journey towards a more peaceful life has begun.