- Joined
- Feb 2, 2008
- Messages
- 3,059
Things in Syria really appear to be coming to a boil- a bombing in Damascus killed the Defense Minister, a former Defense minister and the brother in law to President Assad and the Government is reportedly shelling portions of Damascus itself.
It will be hard to see how this plays out. Unlike much of the Arab world, Syria has a relatively large, educated middle class and has been a secular dictatorship. But just like the rest of it's neighbors, there is no tradition of democratic rule, and the Army and Air Force has been loyal to the Assad regime (father and son) since the mid 1960's. I think that this has all the makings of a very protracted and bloody struggle, that the Israeli's and Iranians must be watching very closely. I don't know if this indicates that the Regime itself is really cracking or how it will respond- shelling Damascus seems like desperation to me.
The US yesterday put financial sanctions on the top individuals in the Syrian Regime, though I'm not sure if that actually helps to bring them down, or stiffens their resolve to stay and fight instead of bolting while they have the chance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...bing/2012/07/18/gJQANz7AtW_story.html?hpid=z1
It will be hard to see how this plays out. Unlike much of the Arab world, Syria has a relatively large, educated middle class and has been a secular dictatorship. But just like the rest of it's neighbors, there is no tradition of democratic rule, and the Army and Air Force has been loyal to the Assad regime (father and son) since the mid 1960's. I think that this has all the makings of a very protracted and bloody struggle, that the Israeli's and Iranians must be watching very closely. I don't know if this indicates that the Regime itself is really cracking or how it will respond- shelling Damascus seems like desperation to me.
The US yesterday put financial sanctions on the top individuals in the Syrian Regime, though I'm not sure if that actually helps to bring them down, or stiffens their resolve to stay and fight instead of bolting while they have the chance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...bing/2012/07/18/gJQANz7AtW_story.html?hpid=z1
Last edited: