The syrians are not as sure from turkish support as much as the Iranian alliance .To them it is all about trade offs.the Iranian alliance is strategic , the Turkish support ( including business interests ) is tactical , but the balance can change if they see the West serious about Iranian mischief in the region , nuclear issue, denial of the halucast , and terrorism .In the final analysis Syria is too weak to be dangerous to anybody except Lebanon and too important to leave alone in a peaceful regional system

The El Assad regime will certainly be able to survive this Arab spring. I am not so sure as for the coming Arab summer. Anyway, Syria is no longer the powerhouse it used to be. It is just a second-tier client state hanging up with whomever flatters its pride.

We can't take seriously the soft touch approach Erdogan is taking in supposedly trying to influence Assad toward political reform. He must know that while he was elected by a majority of Turks, Assad reigns as the puppet leader of a minority clan of Alawhites Syrians who subjects the majority of Sunnis to martial law since 1963. Under these conditions there is no way for the clan to make democratic reforms without quickly loosing their immense material priviledges gained through nepotism, corruption, violence & impunity. The recent murders of protesters by Assad's goons (crimes which do not seem to upset Erdogan too much) are making the regime even more eager to keep its dictatorial powers intact for fear of retribution under a truly democratic government. Both Russia & Turkey bet on the wrong horse & may have to try saving some of their interests in Syria should that country get rid of the Assad mafia. But like in Iran the settlement of accounts in Syria (when the decisive revolt succeeds) is likely to be bloody because of the nature of the despots & the hate they have generated against them.

The love between Erdogan and Assad is situational.

The rash of trouble Assad is enjoying has an economical and agricultural background. A drop of food production caused by a severe drought, as Syria's main water resource, Euphrat, is harnessed by mamoth turkish dams, and its waters stolen to irrigate cotton fields needed to supply the burgeoning textile industry. Easier to bash Israel than to confront Turkey.

The Democratic movement in Middle East, Africa and Asia are derailing the dream of PM of Turkey and Shi’asim Empire of Iran. PM of Turkey tried hard to revive Ottoman Empire by using Israel for his propaganda but Arabs are not buying that anymore. The Shi’a Sayyied ruler of Iran tried hard to build Shi’asim Empire by using Israel for their own propaganda but Arabs are not buying that anymore. Israel will be free nation from wars imposed on them by dictators. I hope Israel will be active to support Kurds in turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. I hope Israel will stop supporting dictators of Kurdistan (Barzani and Talabani) too. Long live for true democratic system and rule of laws.

I realize the British bought Assad for a mere $ 40 billion British pounds can Israel top that I doubt it Jews are all talk no action LUCKY SYRIA TURKEY IRAN ALL ARABS RIGHT ??? Thank you... M. S.

Liel has tried over and over again to convince Israelis to make peace with Assad , thank god we did'nt listen to him , than he tried to convice us that we need Turkey so bad that we must give them every wish they'de ask for, ignoring the fact that unlike Liel's fantasy ,Erdogan has allied himselm with the worce enemies Israel's got . I'ts becoming an Enigma why does this man ,whose Theories and thoughts have been proven again again to become a joke 'is still considered as an EXPERT...