The violence will absolutely get worse. But the ability of the two sides to really shift things in just weeks is limited. Theres a general trajectory to this conflict, and though both sides like to connect military achievements to political causes, no one side is able to do it. Battlefield campaigns take time. Assad wont be able to stabilize the country before elections, but the rebels wont be able to militarily undermine them. Were looking at minor shifts or upticks in violence that are really attempts by the regime to increase stability or, for the opposition, to undermine the credibility of these elections.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 14:15:16 +0000