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Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/06/is-syrias-assad-cracking/240710/
Is Syria's Assad Cracking?
(Atlantic Monthly) Max Fisher - Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Monday used the word "freedom" once, "conspiracy" eight times, and "vandals" - his favorite expressions for the protesters - 18 times. But what is significant about Assad's speech is that it happened at all. His speech may be, like the other Arab dictator speeches that came before his, a desperate last-ditch effort to save an ailing regime. The sudden and severe economic downturn will exacerbate protests, and ultimately limit Assad's ability to pay military and security forces.