Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. I’m not quite sure what to make of the fact that the NYT is trying to claim that the ceasefire is largely holding in Syria, when evidence suggests the contrary. The Times’ evidence is that the intensity of fighting is down.

I’d say that the situation’s akin to a grappling session in the middle round of a heavyweight bout for the championship belt in boxing. After sparring and landing killer jabs and trading body blows, both sides are warily accepting that this is going the distance. They’ll still try to trade blows during this ceasefire, which is as much as an ability to regroup and rearm as it is about actually providing a ceasefire opportunity for the Islamic holiday ongoing this weekend.

The violence and body count continue to rise, and it will rise still more after the weekend. More to the point, the violence and the threat of wider violence continues to creep over the borders into Turkey and Lebanon.

Also, the notion of “ceasefire” itself opens itself up to parody when experts claim that the notion of an absolute ceasefire (no violence) isn’t possible, and everyone simply hopes for a reduction in the intensity of fighting. That’s an incredibly low standard by even already ridiculously low standards.

Neither side is going to back down, and the fighting will continue.