Syrian revolution begins

[zyad]

Syrian forces 'open fire on protesters'

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...127592364.html

[HissingNewt]

Wow. Best of luck to the Syrian people. I thought the Syrian government ruled with an iron fist, though, so doesn't that put a damper on their chances at succeeding?

[Admiral Piett]

Another source.

Hmm. Not quite sure what to think about this.

[The Noble Lord]

Another source.

Hmm. Not quite sure what to think about this.

I doubt that we would see another Tunisia, Egypt or Libya in this instance. Syria is quite different and things are done differently, as much as it may seem "just another Arab dictatorship" it is not and things are more complicated there.

[YuriVII]

March 2011, everything goes to hell. Seriously.

[cfmonkey45]

March 2011, everything goes to hell. Seriously.

December 21, 2012 is getting closer by the day.

Anyways, I hope this is resolved peacefully (i.e. more like Egypt than Libya).

[Armenum]

Wouldn't be surprised if we see Israel actively support the anti-Government forces. A friendly Syria would great change the dynamics in the region.

[eran]

Wouldn't be surprised if we see Israel actively support the anti-Government forces.

In exchange for the Golan! Great plan!

[garudamon11]

Wouldn't be surprised if we see Israel actively support the anti-Government forces. A friendly Syria would great change the dynamics in the region.

Even if Israel supports the rebels it will not gain support in Syria, it will make people think this rebellion is a plot against Bashar and Syria, I can assure you that if Israel supported the rebels they will reduce in numbers and the rebellion will be crushed, Israel is extremly unpopular in all arab countries and especially Syria so I imagine that rebels will firmly reject any aid from Israel

[Central Asian Qaghan]

Not going to happen. Iran not only supports Syria, but it has vital interest as a pressure point to Israeli. Unfortunatly it seems it will fissle out.

[Armenum]

Not going to happen. Iran not only supports Syria, but it has vital interest as a pressure point to Israeli. Unfortunatly it seems it will fissle out.

Probably, I don't have my hopes up that anything drastic will happen in Syria.

[Heinz Guderian]

Not going to happen. Iran not only supports Syria, but it has vital interest as a pressure point to Israeli. Unfortunatly it seems it will fissle out.

i hope not. The despotic Syrian Shia government is oppressing its Sunni majority. This potential revolution is not only a fight against oppression, it will be a fight against heresy.

[Central Asian Qaghan]

i hope not. The despotic Syrian Shia government is oppressing its Sunni majority. This potential revolution is not only a fight against oppression, it will be a fight against heresy.

The Syrian government is secular, not religion. They are Baathists after all. And besides, a wiki search would help you since:

Although the Alawis predominate among the top military and intelligence offices, the civilian government and national economy is largely led by Sunnis, who represent about 70% of Syria's population

So no, in this case, everyone is the same. The reason that this won't happen is the Syria's Miltary doesn't take protesters lightly and will crush them with the support of Iran in secret.

so such protests are only good if they're against "pro-western" governments

So Libya is pro-western? You sure do like to assume false statements.

[Babur]

Not going to happen. Iran not only supports Syria, but it has vital interest as a pressure point to Israeli. Unfortunatly it seems it will fissle out.

so such protests are only good if they're against "pro-western" governments

[charles the hammer]

so such protests are only good if they're against "pro-western" governments

to be fair he did say unfortunely.

[Admiral Piett]

Syria will simple kill the opposition.

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

Syria will simple kill the opposition.

Not if the opposition kills them first.

every arab I have met (including myself) considers Israel as the sole cause for all myseries and should be wiped off the map

Really? The sole cause of all misery?
I wonder what country you lived in:
"Ouch, I've hit my toe on the table, damn Israelis!"
"The Zionists ran over my dog!"
"The king has ordered to stone my daughter to death due to accusations of adultery? Dirty Zionists!"

[garudamon11]

That is one major issue for Arabs as they don't take responsability for their own mistakes and blame them on others.

Our faults meaning ...? installing pro-western governments upon ourselves? asking britain and france to colonize us?

Not if the opposition kills them first.

Really? The sole cause of all misery?
I wonder what country you lived in:
"Ouch, I've hit my toe on the table, damn Israelis!"
"The Zionists ran over my dog!"
"The king has ordered to stone my daughter to death due to accusations of adultery? Dirty Zionists!"

Miseries meaning the poverty and the weakness of arab countries, not unrelated stuff

[Menelik_I]

Miseries meaning the poverty and the weakness of arab countries, not unrelated stuff

There is a giant pipeline channeling all the food, jobs, opportunities and happiness from the whole middle east, from Morroco to Pakistan, and dump it on Israel ? really ?

The fact is that your governments abused you and used Israel has an excuse to give armchair generals their toys and pensions.

All the resources that were diverted to create armies to face ''Israel'' could have been used to promote your growth.

A Democratic Syria might not be more friendly to Israel overnight, but heck a democratic government would lack the centralizing obsession with Israel.

People would have more priorities like reforms and getting back with life and very unlikely to vote an expensive war on themselves for a non existential threat.

[garudamon11]

There is a giant pipeline channeling all the food, jobs, opportunities and happiness from the whole middle east, from Morroco to Pakistan, and dump it on Israel ? really ?

The fact is that your governments abused you and used Israel has an excuse to give armchair generals their toys and pensions.

All the resources that were diverted to create armies to face ''Israel'' could have been used to promote your growth.

A Democratic Syria might not be more friendly to Israel overnight, but heck a democratic government would lack the centralizing obsession with Israel.

People would have more priorities like reforms and getting back with life and very unlikely to vote an expensive war on themselves for a non existential threat.

Opportunities??? Why do you think tunisians and egyptians overthrew their presidents?

I didnt say I like our governments, them and Israel are causing all the problems, its in Israel's interest that arabs stay in trouble

The resources spent on the armies are nothing compared to corruption, have you not noticed that most armies are still using outdated weapons?

Unfriendly relations =/= instant war, all I said was that a democratic Syria will remain unfriendly to Israel, not start a suicidal war