My girl, Laila, lays bereft on the brink of starvation against the empty tray as she waits for her next meal, praying that it will not be her last. (Spoiler alert: It has never been, never will be her last for as long as we both shall live.)

A more melodramatic marshmallow there has never been.

You know, it occurs to me that leaders who call their armies in against their own people are rarely remembered by history as the good guys.

Just saying.