Thin veneer of normalcy in Syria's wartime capital

 'For much of the conflict, it has been cut off from its hinterland, the densely populated towns and villages that surround it in the area known as “Rif Dimashq,” or “the Damascus Countryside.” Rebels have controlled most of the Rif since last year, and regime forces have launched repeated assaults trying to dislodge them, devastating the area.'

 One thing the people saying that we need to stop British troops going to Syria might like to have explained to them in words of one syllable is that nobody wants British troops sent to Syria. Nobody. Well, maybe one person. Bashar al-Assad might want something to takes people's mind off the destruction he has wrought on Syria.