Gangs of armed young men roam Syrian seaside city

[Tamas]

Is the grip of Iran on the current Syrian government strong and well-known enough (among Syrian citizens), to push the future opposition / replacement to seek a cooperative stance toward Israel?

[derspiess]

Is the grip of Iran on the current Syrian government strong and well-known enough (among Syrian citizens), to push the future opposition / replacement to seek a cooperative stance toward Israel?

  I'd give that about a 0% chance.  It's not as if the Sunni masses love Israel.  IMO best we could hope for is a slight reduction in the sponsorship of anti-Israeli terrorism.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Is the grip of Iran on the current Syrian government strong and well-known enough (among Syrian citizens), to push the future opposition / replacement to seek a cooperative stance toward Israel?

  I'd give that about a 0% chance.  It's not as if the Sunni masses love Israel.  IMO best we could hope for is a slight reduction in the sponsorship of anti-Israeli terrorism.

I agree.  Anti-Israeli propaganda is how most Syrians are raised. They ain't gonna change their tune just because they got a new gubbermint.  There is a very definite siege mentality going on there, with Israel to the South, Turkey to the North, and Iraq to the East. 

[Valmy]

The Syrian government has had its boot solidly on the throat of its people for quite a while.  I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that many/most Syrians aren't happy with the regime, but if the regime is indeed losing some of its control then that is something new.

Eh I have always heard unhappiness is rampant through the entire region and it was sure to blow at some point.  That point being now.

[Tamas]

The Syrian government has had its boot solidly on the throat of its people for quite a while.  I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that many/most Syrians aren't happy with the regime, but if the regime is indeed losing some of its control then that is something new.

Eh I have always heard unhappiness is rampant through the entire region and it was sure to blow at some point.  That point being now.

Come on, the magnitude of this thing hit the whole world as unprepared as it gets.

Ok, not as it gets, but unprepared for sure

[derspiess]

I didn't know they had so many rubbing Negroes in Syria.

[derspiess]

Looks like the rubbing may soon be quelled

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/27/us-syria-idUSTRE72N2MC20110327


Assad's regime is claiming there is foreign intervention, particularly in Latakia, and I'd have to think there is some truth to that.  I wonder if there are any middle eastern countries that *aren't* trying to destabilize one or more of their neighbors

[Darth Wagtaros]

Looks like the rubbing may soon be quelled

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/27/us-syria-idUSTRE72N2MC20110327


Assad's regime is claiming there is foreign intervention, particularly in Latakia, and I'd have to think there is some truth to that.  I wonder if there are any middle eastern countries that *aren't* trying to destabilize one or more of their neighbors

No.

[Darth Wagtaros]

No.