Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 30, 2013

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) gestures during an interview with al-Manar TV in Damascus, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA, on May 30,2013. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters

What If al-Assad Prevails? -- Charles Dunne, Special to CNN

Let’s imagine a world in which Bashar al-Assad wins a military victory, remains in power, and defies the world to deal with him. Because, unfortunately, it appears to be an all too plausible scenario.

An influx of Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon, and support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has intensified fighting along the strategic corridor from Qusayr to Damascus. Reported use of chemical weapons, most probably by the Syrian government, has crossed a red line that the U.S. government has ignored, and thus sent a clear and discouraging message to the opposition. Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah, for his part, said in a May 26 television address that Hezbollah would beat down al-Assad's opponents and stay in Syria as long as it needed to do it. “We will continue this road until the end, we will take the responsibility and we will make all the sacrifices,” Nasrallah said. “We will be victorious.”

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Assad’s Foolish Boast -- Max Boot, Commentary

Russia sending missiles to Syria; arms from Britain, France could follow as embargo lapses -- Max Ehrenfreund, Washington Post

Syrian arms embargo: Why more weapons to Syria is a mistake -- Anna Macdonald, Special to CNN

What Happens If Syria Gets S-300 Missiles? -- Yaakov Katz, Daily Beast

Assad ups use of chemical weapons in Syria – with impunity -- Daniel Nisman, Christian Science Monitor

Hezbollah's Syrian Adventure -- Mitchell Prothero, Foreign Policy

If the Muslim Brotherhood is Taking Over Tunisia What Hope is there for Anyone Else? -- Barry Rubin, PJMedia

Comfort women: South Korea's survivors of Japanese brothels -- Lucy Williamson BBC News, Seoul

China Is Our Number One National Security Threat -- IBD Editorial

Could Youth Vote Stir Up Next European Elections? -- Voice of America/Reuters

Euro Crisis: Spain Isn't Far Behind Greece in Terms Of Collapse -- Sarah Katz, Policymic

France’s Pointless, Hopeless Battle Against English -- Andrew Roberts, Daily Beast

The fall of the last bastion of free speech in Venezuela -- Juan Nagel, Transitions/Foreign Policy

Colombia and the FARC: The price of peace -- The Economist

Argentine prosecutor accuses Iran of establishing terror network in Latin America -- David Barnett, Long War Journal

The drone enigma -- Khaleej Times editorial

World-class tax evaders need a global response -- Christian Science Monitor editorial