Pretty much. Very interesting article, but it's a too paranoid take on Iranian intentions, and it significantly overstates Iranian political muscle, IMO. Syria is not an axis of influence that Iran can exploit to much benefit beyond a mild "thorn in the side" effect, even should they want to, as Syria is folded neatly between Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia (which is not going to get pushed around in the region), and a wishy-washy Iraq (heavily seduced by Western money). Syria is too far toward unrest/reform to suddenly becomes a unified extension of Iranian intention in the face of western disapproval. They aren't the ultra-valuable tool implied in this piece. These worries only apply if you believe in the Iranian boogeyman rhetoric, which is largely a right-wing fiction designed to foster a militant perspective on America's interaction with the ME (which is, in turn, solely governed by energy hegemony policy).
It'd be great if Syria can evolve, but I'm not putting dollar one of US money into the process, if I'm running things. We have more pressing concerns.
Good article though.
TR, are you pushing for intervention?