John Bruton: Syrian history key to current conflict

It’s important to see the civil war in Syria, which has caused so much death and devastation in recent years, in the context of Syrian history, says John Bruton

It is important to see the civil war in Syria, that has killed 300,000 people and driven millions from their homes, against the background of Syrian history.

Before its boundaries were created by a deal between the French and the British in 1916, present day Syria was not a natural political unit at all.