Another good (and slightly less flippant) introduction to the country and conflict from the WaPo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/

Another good (and slightly less flippant) introduction to the country and conflict from the WaPo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/9-questions-about-syria-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29...