|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2006/0301_syria.html
Syria and Political Change
(U.S. Institute of Peace) Scott Lasensky and Mona Yacoubian - The Syrian regime continues to consolidate its grip on power, but with a narrowing base of support among the ruling elite. At present, hardliners are in the ascendancy. President Bashar al-Assad favors the anti-American and pan-Arab mindset, which remains the regime's default position. Syrians may not like the current regime, but in view of the situation in neighboring Iraq, they prefer stability to chaos. The opposition will no longer settle for reform, but is coalescing around the demand for regime change.