Big Changes Ahead in Syria

[Admiral Yi]

CNN showed footage of "a couple hundred" protesters in Damascus.

[KRonn]

It does seem somewhat ironic, that the govts of some of these Mid East nations that, not too long ago, enjoyed trumpeting the "evil" West, or the Great/little Satan, and all that bs rhetoric as the problem, are instead finding themselves to be the objects of scorn, and actual rebellion, by their own people who have finally risen up to proclaim the Dictators have no clothes!   

[derspiess]

Why even bother though? It's obviously just words, and the regime's opponents will recognize this and continue the protest.

We know this, but I'm not sure the Assad regime realizes it.  They could be so out of touch they think think it will quell the unrest.  They may have even convinced themselves that this was actually a big concession.  Authoritarian regimes are often weird, prideful, and out of touch with reality.

[The Brain]

They got jew-jitsued

And which country of the two is under siege and almost universally hated?

[derspiess]

Syria's significantly stronger than Libya is though isn't it? That makes a difference.

How did Syria do the last time it was in an all-out military conflict?

I'm with Tim on this.  Syria has a larger and *unified* military.  I don't think they have any big fears of foreign intervention at this point.

[KRonn]

Syria's significantly stronger than Libya is though isn't it? That makes a difference.

How did Syria do the last time it was in an all-out military conflict?

I'm with Tim on this.  Syria has a larger and *unified* military.  I don't think they have any big fears of foreign intervention at this point.

Agreed. Intervention in Syria would be a huge political as well as military affair.

[MadImmortalMan]

Time to expand the no-fly zone from Casablanca to Karachi. 

[Grey Fox]

That's good idea. It'll cut down on our problems a whole lot.

[dps]

Why even bother though? It's obviously just words, and the regime's opponents will recognize this and continue the protest.

We know this, but I'm not sure the Assad regime realizes it.  They could be so out of touch they think think it will quell the unrest.  They may have even convinced themselves that this was actually a big concession.  Authoritarian regimes are often weird, prideful, and out of touch with reality.

My impression was that the dad was a pretty smart operator.  Don't know about the son, or even really how much the son is truly in charge as opposed to being a puppet for someone else.

[MadImmortalMan]

Reports that groups of snipers in Deraa wearing all-black and killing protesters have been mobbed and captured by the crowd. Turns out they only speak...Farsi. 

[Caliga]

[The Minsky Moment]

Reports that groups of snipers in Deraa wearing all-black and killing protesters have been mobbed and captured by the crowd. Turns out they only speak...Farsi. 

Mossad agent provocateurs, obviously.

[Tonitrus]

Didn't Languish conclude that Bashar gets a pass due to having a HOTT wife?  Or was that thread lost?

[MadImmortalMan]

Didn't Languish conclude that Bashar gets a pass due to having a HOTT wife?  Or was that thread lost?

Same with Queen Raina of Jordan.

[derspiess]

My impression was that the dad was a pretty smart operator.  Don't know about the son, or even really how much the son is truly in charge as opposed to being a puppet for someone else.

Good point.  I get the feeling that Bashar was pulled into his role and didn't really seek it out.