Opinion
Will Assad regime survive?
Ron Ben-Yishai
Published: 19.06.11, 21:04
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11 Talkbacks for this article
1. No ( end )
Salma ,   Palestine   (06.19.11)
2. Disagreement on one part
IZL   (06.19.11)
The part of the analysis I do not get is why would the Syrian military attack Israel? Sending Palestinian protestors is one thing, but having the Syrian military create an act of war in the midst of an internal conflict, seems suicidal. If the military is what is keeping the Alawites in power you think they will go attack Israel just to have their military severely weakened? If they attack Israel, there will be a counter attack destroying their military capabilities. Should that happen, then what's going to keep the Sunnis, Kurds, etc... in check? I don't think you have thought that part out Ron. Amazing aerial defenses? So amazing that when Israel tried to attack their future nuclear site the whole Israeli air force was decimated. We're now scared of nuclear armed Syria... The Alawite regime is propped up via a conventional army. Conventional armies do not do well against Israel. Lets wait and see what happens.
3. Assad Speech Tomorrow
Lynn Cee ,   Silicon Valley, USA   (06.20.11)
The world awaits more theater of the absurd from Assad tomorrow at high noon.
4. Syria and Assad
Iranian Jew ,   LA   (06.20.11)
Syria has no use for any major countries backing Nato. It only has strategic location for Iran in case of war with Israel. The world will do nothing about it. Syria will be in chaos for years to come. So sad, but very true!!!
5. Yes
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (06.20.11)
Everyone knows that Assad's Syria is a totalitarian apartheid regime, second only to Saudi Arabia in cruelty. Everyone knows that Assad's Syria illegally occupies Lebanon and is responsible for murdering Hariri. Despite this, a central pillar of Obama's vision is a strong Syria that threatens Israel. That is why Obama and Clinton spent two years pretending that Assad was a nice guy and Hezbolla murdered Hariri with no orders from Assad. That is why Obama and Clinton treated Assad with respect and deference while humiliating the leader of the US ally Israel. The Assad regime will survive because Obama wants it to. When Obama falls, Assad will fall.
6. More proof that "human rights" organizations need overhaul
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (06.20.11)
Arab dictators butcher their own people by the thousands. Thousands more are wounded. Thousands more are arrested and held without trial or any rights. The dictators loot the national treasuries, give money and assets to their children and cronies. This is Arab reality. This is Arab life. But the Arabs also sell lots and lots and lots of oil to Japan and Europe and America - who really care more about oil and their own profits than they do about human rights. The "human rights" organizations? Well, their more concerned about fundraising and the next anti-Israel pro-Palestinian cocktail party. They'll issue some press releases, probably a report, but that's it. They're too busy with more important things like fighting Israel - where Arabs actually do have rights.
7. Honestly, I don't care!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (06.20.11)
He is evil and will be replaced by someone more evil. As far as Israel is concerned, well, better the devil you know than the devil you don't!
8. Quick question
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (06.20.11)
Assad may be tempted to use its huge arsenal of missiles and rockets against Israel. Okay, I get it. And then we destroy Syria, right on down to the roots. It won't take all that long, either. It won't take long at all.
9. To: IZL at No. 2
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (06.20.11)
Oh, Assad might try and galvanize a little unity and support by painting Israel as the "enemy," but it won't work. I remember, both after the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War, Syrian prisoners of war did not want to go home. Israel treated their medical needs and for most of them, it was the first time they had lived without intestinal parasites. It was the first time they could actually enjoy a meal. I think that Assad is a little bit delusional if he thinks that he can rally Syrians against an Israeli foe. Firstly, Israel will crush Syria in no time at all and, secondly, the far more likely outcome would be that the Syrian people will see Israel as their savior. That would be mightily humiliating to the Iranians and the Turks, who would like nothing more than to achieve a foothold in the region. The only thing that is stopping them, frankly, is that Israel has made it very plain that it will not find it acceptable, and whatever their comments for public consumption, both Turkey and Iran are very, very afraid of Israel. You are very correct in pointing out that countries do not do well against Israel in a conventional war. I suspect they would do far worse going up against Israel in a non-conventional war. It would be all the excuse Israel needs to destroy them. Israel can; Israel would.
10. The day Iran stops paying Syria
(06.20.11)
The day Iran is unable or unwilling to support Syria, the Assad mafia family will loose the support of Russia & China to which it will be unable to repay its debt for past weapon deliveries . As usual weather vane Syria will try to racket an other country like the USA . The Assad's not being the fanatic Muslims of the Iranian kind have no true friend in Iran to take refuge in that country. They will do anything to keep their Syrian fiefdom in spite of the majority of the population which would gladly see them gone for good.
11. Assad will fall
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (06.20.11)
None the fascist Arab regimes are going to survive for long. Those that have fallen are going to fall many more times. From Morocco to Pakistan they will fall and many millions will die. And the UN, EU and NGOs will continue to condemn us as we live peacefully.
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