Rania Khalek — The Mystery Fixer Who is Negotiating an End to the Syrian War

Longish and detailed, but it explains a lot.

Short summary: The war was chiefly about sectarianism, and fueled by foreign supporters of the Sunni factions. It was not about installing liberal democracy in place of the "brutal" Assad regime, which in reality had been enforcing liberal secularism. This is the reason it was opposed by traditionalists, including Sunni Islamists.

Consortium News
The Mystery Fixer Who is Negotiating an End to the Syrian War

Rania Khalek, independent journalist living in Beirut, Lebanon

Moon of Alabama — Clashes In Marseille Foreshadow Wider Sectarian War

The crazy escalates in Europe, fueled by old sectarian (religious) animosities. And no. not involving Islam in this case. Just the standard Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox sects that were involved centuries of European wars.

Ancient tribalism are resurfacing now that the going is getting tougher in globalization.

Moon of Alabama
Clashes In Marseille Foreshadow Wider Sectarian War