Panic from Assad

[Undesired Walrus]

Probably watching the fate of Gaddafi with open eyes, Assad tries to frighten the West with the same techniques all Arab dictators had perfected:

"Any problem in Syria will burn the whole region. If the plan is to divide Syria, that is to divide the whole region.

"Do you want to see another Afghanistan, or tens of Afghanistans?"

President Assad admitted that "many mistakes" had been made by his security forces in the early part of the uprising, but the paper said he insisted that "only terrorists" were now being targeted...

Mr Assad described the uprising as a "struggle between Islamism and pan-Arabism".

"We've been fighting the Muslim Brotherhood since the 1950s and we are still fighting with them," he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15508630

 

[Toontown]

If he has anywhere to go, he should probably be packing his bags instead of posturing. They keep hanging around too long, and they keep getting their fool selves killed. the 'stubborn dead' list is getting pretty long.

 

[Eddie Dane]

This is really heating up.

Turkey is supporting the opposition, who now have a military arm.
Russia supports Assad.

The Muslim brotherhood wants Turkey to intervene with military means, but not Western powers.

My prediction: Assad is a goner.
The fact that he belongs to a minority that is wielding all the power over the majority, makes for an excellent basis for a sustained insurrection.
And I would be very surprised if that insurrection isn't going to get money and advice from a number of parties.

Let's hope that this will ensure Syria keeping it's influence out of Lebanon in the future.

 

[richardm]

Turkey is supporting the opposition, who now have a military arm.
Russia supports Assad.

My guess is that Russia will support him in every way except military intervention. I could easily see Turkey having a go though.

My prediction: Assad is a goner.

I reckon you're right. Amazing, really, to see all these changes coming on top of each other like this.

 

[Darth Rotor]

We live in interesting times.

 

[Beerina]

We live in interesting times.

Hey! Russia decided to point its missiles at the US again!

 

[David Swidler]

I was inspired: http://wp.me/pSXPz-ug

 

[Caper]

Assad is a bit of a different character. He seems like a guy that just doesn't want to be a dictator.

 

[CTB]

Well, I think the blueprint was mapped out in Libya over the summer.

For sure it's going to be rolled out against Syria. It seems to me that the initial pieces are already being stapled together eg Arab League on-side, leader of the opposition waiting in the wings. Eerily familiar.

It remains to be seen just how much hotter this one's going to be.

 

[David Swidler]

Whether it more resembles Libya or more resembles Tunisia, I do not envy the Syrian people their current situation.