The Syrian opposition, before starting the process of systematically destroying state and society, was subjected to many American and European experiments, performed by research centers and intelligence services, to determine its members' individual ability to confront the regime, the extent of their influence on those around them, how they can be driven to further inflexibility, and the extent to which they can be benefited from to destabilize the situation. Such experiments were restricted to a group of intellectuals and of political party and sect leaders. This is a normal process major powers resort to in preparation for drafting their strategies. Meanwhile, the regime was subjecting those who opposed it to a process of submission, using its well-know means of oppression, imprisonment and forced exile, without paying heed to how this would affect its reputation on both the international and domestic scenes. We are reminded, within such a framework, of the Damascus Spring, the imprisonment of opposition intellectuals, the reactions to their incarceration and the campaigns of solidarity with them. We are also reminded that the regime tried to initiate dialogue with some of them and failed, because it had not been sincere in seeking to do so, and had not been prepared to meet even their most basic demands. Thus its behavior too was analyzed – thousands of studies were written and a great deal of research conducted, some sincere and serious and many consisting of mere claims, either in its favor or against it. Today the experiments have become practical. And it is no longer a secret that intelligence “battalions" and special units have deployed in and around Syria, from Turkey to Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. They all have the same mission: to assess the military and political performance of the armed opposition, in preparation for choosing what would suit the plans for after the fall of the regime – or in preparation for dialogue with the regime, after its influence inside and outside of Syria has been dwarfed, and after Syria – as a regime, political parties and religious and ethnic groups – has come to orbit this or that country, especially since it lost its unifying cover, i.e. Arabism, which has turned into a burden for the “Arab Spring" and its alliances, from Tunisia to Egypt. Intelligence services have come to the conclusion that the failure of the Syrian National Council (SNC) at its task became apparent in its inability to have an effective presence on the ground, in the lack of compliance of armed groups to any of its decisions, and in the prevailing chaos in terms of funding and armament within the ranks of the opposition. This is why the US Secretary of State declared it defunct, to be replaced by the National Coalition, which has since its inception been subjected to numerous experiments, all of which have failed. Indeed, it was neither able to unite the armed fighters under a single leadership, nor did its constituents agree on a political program that would satisfy its sponsors and represent a roadmap for reunifying the Syrian people. The fact is that the failure of both experiences, the “council" and the “coalition", reflect the reality on the ground. Indeed, the “Jihadists" seek to eliminate any party or sect that would oppose their law, the Muslim Brotherhood is fighting for Syria to join its “spring", and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) is made up of fragments of defectors and civilians who have no goal but to topple the regime. Moreover, the FSA is not affiliated to any particular side, and indeed its officers receive financial and military assistance on the basis of their individual “prowess" in battle. They thus resort to destroying everything in their path, in order to prove their ability to funders. After the failure of all of these experiments, the United States has intervened in an attempt to put a stop to the chaos, in preparation for adopting a leadership that would be able to unite the fragmented groups of armed fighters, and started pressuring all sides into cleansing their ranks from its enemies. It has thus placed the Al-Nusra Front on its terrorist list, where it may well place other groups as well, in order to deprive them of financial and military aid. Indeed, the cleansing process is ongoing among the ranks of allies, the wars are ongoing, and the destruction of Syria is ongoing.
