As a fellow "orderly evil" camps, Putin and Al-Assad naturally work together.
CPS:
yes, it is obviously hinted, they use underground currency, which constitutes a crime, on religious grounds. They openly support replacing the constitution with Shari'a rulings. This fanatics broke one and two good laws for the sake of religious rulings. Yet, they become quite an arsehole about most other things, basic things like courtesy at traffic, queueing, helping others in public (holding doors or lifts for others), greeting back the door keeper, cheating the customers out of their change money (it is similar to stealing). As if Allah overlooks their unruly behaviour in place of their favourite Juz or verses of Qur'an. As an outsider, challenging them is like fuelling their propaganda about their religion being secretly opressed by the unseen force aligned with the west. All I need is just to remind them that their Toyota minivan, its comfortable AC, the plushy seat, their phone, oh goodness, their facebook and instagram accounts would only make them harder to reach their own criteria of paradise or heaven.
Now, Saddam Hussein was a bad person. He didn't get away with it. If only USA knows the difference between religious fanatics and Arab nationalists. They chose the fanatics instead, and disbanded the Ba'ath party. The headless crowd found new cause in violent fanatical beliefs. I'd say if they were given their nationalism toy, we would still see Iraqi Christians taking minister posts while vaguely throwing insults at America. Is it better? They gassed the Kurds, kidnap and tortured dissents? Is it any better than the loud beheading-lover uncivilised thugs like the Da'esh? Well, at least it won't shower the EU with millions of refugees.
Some Asians (people from Asia, the continent) are born with political mind, many are not. They choose stability, prosperity, and security instead. Many times at the expense of others. It is not surprising the so-beloved western media darling "democracy fighters" like Aung San Suu Kyi stay quiet about Rohingya massacre and Buddhist terrorism movement that started to emerge from Srilanka to Myanmar. I don't think the Tibetans, Uyghurs, Acehnese, Moro, nor the Southern Thais will speak the same about Tibetan caste system and slavery, or Uyghurs doing what the Pashtun Afghans do. Well, how is the IRA or ETA up there? Surely we are all very big about some folks wanting freedom, but we won't tolerate violence, especially terrorism, right?
Now, I am all with the west, at least the BBC reports that Churchill starved India, interfered with Iran democracy, and get away with it, but British public voted this warmonger out right after WW2 ended. So does Tony Blair. I am glad the Brits are pretty fair and square about pressing issues. So, I am still on the west's side on this matter, but like most, I do have a lot to criticise. But some like China or Russia media should have their critique license revoked. Yes, we understand why do they need dictatorship, but while at it, they should STFU about some ironic issues.
