A) Syria, already in the times of Assad Senior, stopped to be Socialist, and under Assad Junior, stopped Socialism alltogether

B) Kuwait has a Sunni majority of some 65%, so that your comparison is wrong

C) Religious Totalitarianism ? This would mean total rule of a religious group, and this in Secularist Syria is NOT the case

Sorry I'm flued up, my mistake I meant Bahrain.

I don't mind socialism I'm a Labour supporter.

As far as I know Assad is a Shiite Alewite, the power in Syria is in the hands of the Alewites.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/13/news/13iht-A6_9.html

The power is in the hands of the Alawites not least as it is clear that they are Secularists and with their mix of Shi'ite Islam with some degree of Christianity are "religiously fairly neutral". THIS, beside their military role, is one of the bases of their power.

It still smacks of nepotism to me- but hey look at the Bush family. At least in the US we don't have a 10% Shiite sect ruling a 70% Sunni majority. I could imagine that his leaving would create a massive power vacuum, who would take his place?

If you just change the focus, from religion to money, the US has the EXACT same problem. 10% of the wealthy, control the rest. Same as it ever was, just we call it something different.

Just saying.

One of the things that struck me in Syria is how tolerant the different religions are of each other. The sacred Christian sites are well-respected and cared for, and there is no evidence of extremism on the streets (one undeniable benefit of the regime, as unpalatable as it may be in other ways). Damascus is a great city to visit - go to the Christian areas if you want hustle and bustle on a Friday, and substitute that for the Muslim areas on a Sunday. My favourite place was the souk in Aleppo - possibly the world's original shopping mall.

The people themselves I've found to be exceedingly hospitable and genuinely interested in talking to foreigners.

Assad's speech: It's a conspiracy, Israel and the US are behind it.

I wonder how many Syrians will believe these lame excuses - but after reading Mowvich's conspiracy posts I suspect that many will.

Again, Syria is NOT lead by a "sect" but lead by some military folks mostly being members of that sect. Interesting in fact is to know that also the military top in Ankara/Turkey also is Alawite-dominated Strange but true

few will believe it but many will accept, simply out of fear that a change might have negative results and consequences

Assad jnr is building himself a box that he will eventually & finally find very difficult to get out of

difficult to say, but he, just up to his personality, tries to find a way out by intelligent means. His real problem however clearly is the Party.

The armed forces possibly are not a problem in reality.

That's funny I was actually thinking of that when I wrote- the 10% or giant corporations

Well - the speech blaming Israel for everything did not work.

The usual demonstrations & violent responses continue.

Will syria break up along ethnic lines (starting with the Kurds) ? not likely (Turkey, for one, will not like that) - but it already happend in Lebanon during the civil war, so it might happen again.

The speech of course did not achieve anything as it was rubbish. Worse was that cheap trick with the Prime Minister and his chaps resigning, as people want most of all the Ba'ath Party stop being the monopolistic and only party, and if wanting somebody to resign the state-president to be the one.

No, Syria cannot break up along "ethnic lines" as there are not "ethnic areas" (the Kurds are the exception). The "break-up along Sunni/Shi'ite lines" for a long while was a preferential topic in the western media in case of Iraq, but since the Fundamentalists lost the support of Fundamentalist GWB and lost the last parliamentary elections clearly to the Secularists, this topic suddenly has died !

Turkey ? Not really relevant in Syria, BUT I already now can tell you is that the Turkish leadership will NOT like to see Iraqi Kurdistan moving towards national independence, as it will ! Sure, I cannot tell you WHEN this will happen, but happen it will. This may of course also cause problems for Syria and Iran within some time, but most of all it will be a problem for the Turkish Republic.

In Syria??????

As I said before: once the Druze distance themsleves from the Assad regime, his survival chances decline.

This started to happen: the Druze in the Golan (pro syrian, but more pro-druze) demonstrated against Assad.

along with the continuing demonstrations, and the usual violent Syrain response - things are not looking too good for Junior.

He ought to quit (resign and depart)

You didnt learn anything from Mubarak ? he should first depart, then resign.

How many Syrian dictators survived their departure from power ?

Mubarek?
I quote "Hosni Mubarak is in hospital with a suspected heart attack; when he gets out, he could be hanged, and his sons are currently in prison."

So what is to learn?

No problem, if you resign on board of the airplane carrying you out This of course is what Ben Ali did correctly. If Assad's resignation reaches people when his plane back to London is just overflying Austria, he will be safe.

But whatever, I think the show is over.