This is a picture of President Assad speaking in Raqqa, Syria.
December 7, 2011
By Dorian Jones
...Most recently, (click here) Syrian security forces have been blamed for October's assassination of a leading Kurdish figure, Mishaal al-Tammo, after he allied himself with the Syrian opposition.
But despite the history of hostility, the Syrian regime is now actively courting the Kurdish minority as an ally. Basma Kodmani, spokeswoman for the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC), says the government's policy is meeting with some success.
"The regime has tried different options to convince the Kurds to stay behind the regime," Kodmani says. "First, 'We will give you back Syrian nationality,' which they have lost. Then promises of some form of autonomy within Syria -- perhaps other promises that we don't quite know of. We suspect that the regime is willing even to endanger the unity of the national territory. But it has neither convinced all the Kurds, nor has it moved all of them into the opposition. We still have a split within the Kurds, definitely."...
This is the same sort of dialogue noted by Gaddfi when he was facing wrath from the people before and after the Benghazi attack. Gaddfi attempted to mitigate the anger of the people, but, they would not be squelched.
Today, it is believed President Assad is alive and well and in Damascus. I don't think he is in the country. When there were problems with the chemical weapons and the USA approached the idea of firing missiles he and his family went to Qatar. It may be that is where he is today. But, there is sincere doubt, as far as I am concerned, as to whether he still has a military.
I find it amusing when USA Commentators on the political right want to state President Obama's foreign policy is in question, when Congress ruled not to fire missiles into Syria. But, any excuse to blame President Obama is a good excuse for American Republicans.
