The wars that are ongoing are necessary to remove the impediments to globalisation of capital as well as bring otherwise nationalised resouces to the open market. The Russians, Iranians and Chinese are in cahoots with the Western centres of capital in NY and London (as is most of the world including the Islamists). Assad is not as co-operative like his fellow Baathist, Saddam. This is not to say that Assad is a radical, not by any means. He wants to be able to dictate to the centres of capital which he is not able to do seeing as much of the planet, from the centres of capital to the mercantilist nations of Japan, German and China, are very inter-dependent, for the time being.

Remember my words in 5 years time, OK 'cos change aint coming anytime soon?

edit: the financial problems reflect a skewed capitalism that harkens back to the Cold War perks that were given to the Western masses to avoid them rebelling, like a stake in capitalism, ie house ownership. Now that the Cold War is over, many of those houses will be turned to rentals as many Western workers are reduced into tenants.