It must be clear by now that the cross-border spillovers of the Syrian conflict affect the country's destiny far more than what happens within its borders.

To other countries, the fact that the Assad regime has gassed and killed over 200,000 Syrian civilians is secondary—it's worth a sympathy head tilt, a hug, a fact-finding mission.

But Iran-backed militias, the YPG, ISIS, or refugees destabilizing other countries...that is what makes their politicians intervene in the conflict meaningfully.

We have only ourselves to fix our country.