The arabs of all people should know that killing protestors won't scare them off they end up being treated as holy martyrs who must be avenged. If its not already to late if Assad wants to survive he needs to give the masses something they want. These uprisings didn't start over a desire for democracy its about having a growing population and large numbers of unemployed. He should announce a Roosevelt style new deal and create jobs artifcially for the short - medium term. He makes the announcement on Sunday he can start spending money on Monday. Promise reforms although don't be to specific that way the people can't say you promised this and you haven't delivered. Take his portrait down from every street corner. All he needs to do is stay in power not be worshiped... if he can keep a lower profile then people won't see the dictator Assad everywhere they go and will be more likely to think about their own lives. Talk tough and threaten war with Israel for a noble grand gesture. Its not an actual decleration of war so he is not committed to war but he is talking tough which is sure to buy him some support. If Assad can satisfy the people through actions that will make their lives better then the fewer people who will be calling for democracy and any die hard leaders of a democracy movement Assad can see to it just vanishes.

So where are all the condemnations from the anti-Israel writers? Again we have Arabs killing Arabs and not much world reaction. The USA is getting out of the "No Fly Zone" business (in Libya) and letting NATO take over. Interestingly that may have led to the 40 civilians killed in what appears a friendly fire incident. But it's always hard to know because so many lies and fabrications come from that part of the world. Whenever I see "according to Al-Jazeera...", I know the story may be total BS. But in Syria these event have been going on for over two weeks without much coverage in the Western Media. With so much going on, in what appears to be so many different Arab countries, I think a "Media Fatigue" is setting in with the public in general. I may be wrong. But how much can you take. It might just be, the people in the Western countries are thinking, look they've been killing each other for a thousand years. We don't have any real clear idea who the protesters are, or who they want to rule their country? I think there is a sneaking suspicion that it will be "Muslim Brotherhood" type groups. They hate the West, so why should we get involved? Better the devil you know than the devil you don't, right?

come, the wimp Assad has to keep in check his lovely fellow countrymen and women, maybe that he now has to neglect a bit his dear buddy Mr. Nasrallah... Mr. wimp in chief of Hizbullah, from now on the bunkers that you dug, will be your best friends...

I WONDER WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF ISRAEL WAS TO HELP THE PROTESTERS. WOULD THE SYRIANS BE GRATEFUL? OR WOULD THEY JUST TURN AROUND AND KILL THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED? JUST WONDERING!

Only the sadistic degree varies (the young vs the old). The father massacred 15 - 20 thousands of his " beloved brothers ", no one knows. The son still in the learning phase, only slaughtered 100 - 200 of HIS beloved brothers. Every single despot, dictator, king, or half human behaves in the same fashion.Simple basics; you revolt, you get killed. Of some interest : when a israeli kills say 2 islamic criminals, the whole of the arab world goes wild " cold blood massacre, innocent / peacefull citizens, the UN must condamn this unprovoked senseless murder of our" beloved brothers " Ah !, Ha! -- When the shoe is other foot, all hell brakes loose : " They are spies, they are criminals, they are not true believers, they are gangsters, They should be killed one by one ". What happen to the cries of " Beloved brothers " ?? -- Islam, arabs, muslims at their best . Friends of America, Europe, and a few other non-descript countries.

Why dont you report also on the millions that came out in support of president Assad following his speach?

But it looks bad for Syria, as I said in my earlier post, nobody wants to do anything. We have our own problems here in the USA and already in 3 countries in the region. Take note Pals, if you start war with Israel, the USA and NATO won't be coming to your defense. The UN can do nothing but pass meaningless condemnations, but no army or world pressure will stop the IDF this time around. So if you start something in Gaza, your though!

Anyone remembers him? On the payrole of Israel's Mosad?