Tortuous EU move to arm Syria rebels highlights disunity

Likewise analyst Ian Bond, of the CER, said in a recent paper that Europe should draw lessons for Syria from the mistakes it made two decades ago in the Balkans.

One of those lessons was to arm and train parties to a conflict who need to be assured they will not face annihilation if defeated.

"There is a strong case for training and equipping forces loyal to the Syrian National Coalition," said Ian Bond of the CER ina recent paper. "But there must also be a credible threat from leading NATO and Middle Eastern powers that they will launch military strikes against Assad's air and ground forces."