President Assad's defiant speech stuns Syrians who call for more protests

[cali]

In a long-awaited speech to the nation following multiple deadly protests this past week, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad failed to announce concrete changes or meet any of the protesters' expectations.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad struck a defiant stance Wednesday, blaming “conspiracies” for two weeks of unprecedented antiregime protests and stopping short of offering a widely anticipated reform

The content of Mr. Assad’s first address since the unrest began dismayed the opposition, which had hoped that the president would reveal details of how he plans to reform the tightly policed state. Despite the government earlier this week dismissing the ruling cabinet and hinting at lifting the emergency law, Assad failed to announce concrete changes or meet any of the protesters' expectations.

“We have returned to the point zero,” says Razan Zeitouneh, a human rights lawyer in Damascus.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0330/President-Assad-s-defiant-speech-stuns-Syrians-who-call-for-more-protests

[David__77]

1. What happens if Libya-like conditions unfold in Syria?

How would the US publicly justify applying different policies to Syria than Libya? I do not believe the US will risk an air raid campaign in the geopolitical location. But how to explain such a thing. On the other hand, I doubt that Syrian armed rebels will emerge in a similar way, controlling cities and the like.

[aSpeckofDust]

2. Does Syria have oil fields?

[David__77]

3. I don't think that's the decisive factor by any means.

People are too fixated on the resources question. It's more like overall political control of regions. What about Afghanistan, for instance? There's little value there.