Syria is no exception to the current wave of revolutions in the Middle east - the usual pattern of demonstrations and violent response by the regime is repeated.

Interesting times we live in.

And what`s the status on the Golan Hights yet ??

How very off topic of you.

Syria= Golan hights

False & still off topic.

OP, you haven't stated a topic, just a flat statement that does not invite debate or comment. I'm not sure what you expected really

The Golan area is in reality just a very small area of Syria. Add to this that the Israelis have handed back most of the Syrian territory they conquered in 67. What now is at stake is the rule of the Allawite minority over Syria.

And of importance is that the Alawites dominate the Syrian officer corps. Particularily the tanks, the artillery and the airforce are fully in Alawite hands.

Dr Assad in a way is the "nice face of the Assad rulership". Dr Assad has liberalized a lot of things in his country, but practically nothing in regard to more democracy.

Fair enough - this thread will discuss the current unrest in Syria, possible scenarios & results

So far Syria is following in the footsteps of Libya: riots, people defacing posters of the big brother (Assad Sr & Jr) etc.
Assad declared a list of reforms, but maybe it's too late.

Syria is not a nation state like egypt - lots of different ethnic groups (like in Lebanon, maybe like the tribes in Libya).

Once the Kurds & the Druze decide to go against Assad his regime will be in serious trouble.

> reforms : not only too late, but as I fear not enough
> no Arab country, none of them, is a "nation-state" in the Western
sense, Egypt only is one in so far as it as a clearly defined geo-region, the Nile-Valley
> The Druze are one of the various ethnic-religious-denominational groups in Syria, but only one. The Kurds are one, yes, but clearly "outsiders". In the past, the Alawites linked to the Druzes in a kind of defacto-pact. Yes indeed, if the Druzes opt out, the Assad clan may even lose support among fellow Alawites.
> let's not forget that Dr Assad and his (English) wife never got too enthusiastic about Damascus, and so they if things get too troublesome may decide "après moi le déluge" and return to London

Indeed.

Hanging around mayfair is far better to be hanging from a lamp post in Damaskus.

From previously visiting syria on numerous occasions, i can confidently say that this is just one of many media halts. Sky news, BBC and all the others are just trying to portrait syria in a very negative way. i think one should try and understand and go and live in syria if one wants to label syria as the bad guy.

Syria is an amazing country with a rich history, excellent people and fantastic hospitality, unlike Britain !

finally, the world has understood the middle-east, just 1 more country remaining to dissect, EVIL ISRAEL!!!

I think you'll find it's not the people of Israel that are evil but their government and the religious nuts, pretty similar to the rest of the Arab world.

Interesting times indeed.

And yes it is rather odd how that almost identic pattern got repeated is it not. Très bizarre.
I can't wait to read the books which will be written about what triggered all this sudden uproar. One might, again, be surprised what comes to the light !!!

Anyway, I truly hope that the next generation will reap at least some benefits from all this and won't get stuck in years and years and years of not getting anywhere.

This is the English Forum not Finsbury Park Mosque. Cool it if you want to stick around. Ta.

Which part is unlike Britain ?

Now excuse me: I have to send SMSs to tell syrians to riot.

Israel is a true democracy where the leaders change at regular intervals according to the voting.
So no possibility of the people rising up to revolt against an evil leader who has been in power for too many years; unlike most/all of the other countries in the ME.

The books author`s name may be Hillary Clinton

Oh wow.
Now that would be interesting indeed. Very good !!!