The proxy war is ending. Is nation state combat next?

via Washington Times.

When asked if Turkey could enter the Syrian conflict, Mr. Erdogan said, “You don’t talk about these things. When necessary, you do what’s needed. Right now our security forces are prepared for all possibilities.”
To Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Erdogan said, “What are you doing in Syria? You’re essentially an occupier.”
Late last week, Saudi Arabia stated it could send ground troops into the fight to support Sunni forces. Now other Gulf states seem to be following suit.
“A real campaign against Daesh has to include ground elements,” Anwar Gargash, U.A.E. minister of state for foreign affairs, said when asked if the emirates would send ground troops to fight Islamic State, using an Arabic acronym for the group. “We’re not talking about thousands of troops, but we are talking about troops on the ground that will lead the way, that will train, that will support,” Mr. Gargash said at a news conference in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. American leadership of such an effort “is a prerequisite,” he added.
The Syrian civil war is now becoming a confusing, full-fledged, proxy war for Shia against Sunni, East against West, terrorism against the Western, civilized world. This is the result of American abdication of leadership in the region and across the globe.

I looked for five minutes to make sure that this was a news story and not an editorial.  Maybe I missed it but from my seat it looks like its being touted as news.

That's why I have the last sentence highlighted.

While I agree that we're seeing the Syrian civil war go from being a proxy affair to nation state combat, I disagree with the idea that the US abdicated its leadership in the region.

Sooner or later this battle between Shia and Sunni had to play out.  Even more importantly, it's not the responsibility of the US to "keep the peace" between these factions.

We've given enough.  If they want to bleed each other then so be it.