Analysis: Assad era almost over

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By Dale McFeatters

The Assad family’s 41-year hold on Syria appears to be nearing its inevitable bloody end. Most dictators depart no other way, and it seems clear that time has run out for Bashar Assad, who took over upon his father’s death in 2000.

What began 17 months ago as scattered protests against the regime, violently suppressed, has metastasized into civil war, with a Sunni majority rebelling against a ruling ethnic and religious minority that was beholden to the Assads for its power and perks.

The rebels, at first loosely organized, reached a level of organization at which they were capable of planting a bomb in a tightly guarded government quarter of Damascus that on Wednesday killed the defense minister, the deputy defense minister (who is also Assad’s brother-in-law) and a former defense minister. A fourth member of Assad’s inner circle died of his injuries yesterday, while another was wounded in the attack.

Despite the regular army’s advantage in weapons — especially helicopter gunships, supplies and presumably superior training — it has been unable to quell the rebellion that has spread deep into Damascus.

On Thursday, Assad made a rare appearance on TV for the new defense minister’s swearing-in, but by all accounts it was a perfunctory appearance with no rhetorical attempt to rally the public around his faltering regime. In fact, it is widely rumored that Assad and his family are not in the capital but in a coastal city more conducive to a quick escape.

The rebels also took over a border crossing into Turkey, where many Syrians have fled, and another into Iraq, suggesting that they are now strong enough to have an extended reach.

There has been no formal international support for the rebels, although Turkey has tacitly offered sanctuary for the rebels to rest and refit. Other Arab nations, opposed to Syria’s close ties to Iran and its constant meddling in Lebanon, have almost certainly supplied the rebels.

But the United Nations has been limited to sending in 300 unarmed observers. Attempts by the U.N. Security Council to impose tougher sanctions have been vetoed by Russia and China three times, most recently on Thursday. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, commenting on Twitter, called the third veto “even more dangerous and deplorable” than the earlier ones.

The U.S. and other foreign nations could do little in Syria without giving credence to Assad’s charge that the unrest was the work of foreigners and their agents. The war has passed that milepost. It’s now time for the U.S. and its Arab and European allies to help the rebels prepare to establish a new government.

 

Boston Herald

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17 responses to “Analysis: Assad era almost over”

  1. Btru2u Avatar

    i dont think the rebels want the US or its puppets to to help return the fruits back to western intersts again. Once bitten twice shy. Khilafah is Power, is only a matter of time.

    1. Moe2000 Avatar

       I read your comment history and i like the way you think…. Insallah one day we the Muslim people will unite and have a free Middle East…

    2. Moe2000 Avatar

       I read your comment history and i like the way you think…. Insallah one day we the Muslim people will unite and have a free Middle East…

    3. Moe2000 Avatar

      The will of the people will happen in Syria no one can stop it…. I just hope they can negotiate a way for Assad to step down without too much bloodshed keep the Syrian state intact and not allow puppets to be installed that do the bidding of Israel…. There aim is to remove Assad attack Hezbollah and then Iran… It would be harder for Israel if Assad was still around… After that Palestine will have no hope pure Zionist dominance/puppets in the Middle East… Even though i know the Rebels will fight Israel, Syria still has the occupied Golan… Who knows what will happen…

      1. 73Corty77 Avatar
        73Corty77

        Moe, If Assad steps down who do you think will take his place brother. A puppet controlled by the Zionist. That is fact  Also if he steps down it will be the beginning of the end for Iran and Hezbollah God Forbid. Syria is Hezbollah’s only backer in the middle east.

      2. 73Corty77 Avatar
        73Corty77

        Moe, If Assad steps down who do you think will take his place brother. A puppet controlled by the Zionist. That is fact  Also if he steps down it will be the beginning of the end for Iran and Hezbollah God Forbid. Syria is Hezbollah’s only backer in the middle east.

  2. Btru2u Avatar

    i dont think the rebels want the US or its puppets to to help return the fruits back to western intersts again. Once bitten twice shy. Khilafah is Power, is only a matter of time.

    1. Moe2000 Avatar

       I read your comment history and i like the way you think…. Insallah one day we the Muslim people will unite and have a free Middle East…

    2. Moe2000 Avatar

      The will of the people will happen in Syria no one can stop it…. I just hope they can negotiate a way for Assad to step down without too much bloodshed keep the Syrian state intact and not allow puppets to be installed that do the bidding of Israel….

      1. 73Corty77 Avatar
        73Corty77

        Moe, If Assad steps down who do you think will take his place brother. A puppet controlled by the Zionist. That is fact  Also if he steps down it will be the beginning of the end for Iran and Hezbollah God Forbid. Syria is Hezbollah’s only backer in the middle east.

  3. 73Corty77 Avatar
    73Corty77

    Where the hell does Ya Libnan get its information from. The Syrian government is now using full force to drive those Free Syrian Ass Holes out. With Russia, China, Iran and Hezbollah on board, Assad is going nowhere. The truth is the west has played all its cards now with nothing left in the deck. Watch and see what will happen in the next week or two. Those animals the Free Syrian Ass Holes are now running with their tale between their legs.
    God Bless Syria, Basher and its people 

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      It says ‘Boston Herald’ … or didn’t you read it all. Again. 🙂

  4. 73Corty77 Avatar
    73Corty77

    Where the hell does Ya Libnan get its information from. The Syrian government is now using full force to drive those Free Syrian Ass Holes out. With Russia, China, Iran and Hezbollah on board, Assad is going nowhere. The truth is the west has played all its cards now with nothing left in the deck. Watch and see what will happen in the next week or two. Those animals the Free Syrian Ass Holes are now running with their tale between their legs.
    God Bless Syria, Basher and its people 

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      It says ‘Boston Herald’ … or didn’t you read it all. Again. 🙂

  5. the muslim brotherhood will take power. lol…..enjoy the coming world war

  6. the muslim brotherhood will take power. lol…..enjoy the coming world war

  7. the muslim brotherhood will take power. lol…..enjoy the coming world war

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