Turkey Helps Their Cause--And Hurts Iran's--By Helping Armed Revolt Against Syria

After warning Syria to ease back on its crackdown, Turkey is now actively undermining the Syrian regime:

Once one of Syria’s closest allies, Turkey is hosting an armed opposition group waging an insurgency against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, providing shelter to the commander and dozens of members of the group, the Free Syrian Army, and allowing them to orchestrate attacks across the border from inside a camp guarded by the Turkish military.


The support for the insurgents comes amid a broader Turkish campaign to undermine Mr. Assad’s government.

And now Turkey seems to be ready for the next step in guaranteeing Assad's overthrow:

Israeli officials said that according to an updated assessment of the situation, Turkey is expected to set up secure buffer zones on its border with Syria that would allow armed opposition groups to organize against the Syrian regime from bases that would be protected by the Turkish army.

There seems to be no end to the benefits that will accrue to Turkey in being responsible for the fall of the Assad regime:

o Turkey will gain the gratitude of the West, which has weakly stood by while Assad slaughtered his people
o Knock Iran down a peg or 2 by eliminating Iran's key ally
o Stabilize their own situation which has seen thousands of Syrian refugees enter the country
o Strengthen their claim to be the New Ottomans by eliminating a key domino in the rash of falling Muslim dictatorships

Sounds good--after all, talking trash about Israel is not enough
Now let's see what Iran will do to stop them.

Hat tip: Jens Odsvall

Technorati Tag: Turkey and Syria and Iran.