...yes, I think the Assad regime has shown it can and will absolutely crush any armed resistance, and kill whoever it needs to in order to accomplish its goals. Seeing your neighborhood destroyed after the FSA declares it liberated is probably souring quite a few people on the path of armed struggle.

Syria may well return to years of quiet desperation. The pillars of the Assad regime appear solidly rooted.

the hands of islamist terrorists and their foreign backers any day. As well as over the radical Sunni
"democracy" which a successful regime change would impose instead of a secular regime.

About a third want to overthrow the regime, about a third support the regime, and the remaining third would like to see reforms but not at the price of civil war.

I think it's disingenous to pretend that the Syrian security apparatus--police and military--is not killing a lot of people, including a lot of people who are not armed combatants.

that Syrian security apparatus does that killing for pure fun and enjoyment of it
and the gangs of violent extremists hell-bent on overthrowing the regime are
just "democracy activists" having nothing to do with the violence. Talk about
disingenuous.

Is what set this whole thing into motion to begin with...Not armed gangs. The regime was slaughtering innocent people to include women & children long before chunks of the Syrian Army began defecting & fighting against the regime.

Just curious, how many Syrian families have to have their children or family members sent back to them in body bags after being tortured in the most brutal ways & Syrian soldiers shot for not shooting unarmed protesters before it is OK to actually fight back with violence in an attempt to overthrown the regime not be labelled "extremist"??

Or, is anyone who picks up arms against the Assad Regime nothing but "violent extremist hell bent on overthrowing the regime"?

Surely you are not defending the Assad regime, right? So, I am curious what you are saying because judging from your comment it seems that you are implying that there was no reason for Syrians to resort to violence especially to overthrown the regime?

I am for non-violent resistance but I do have my limits & if my child or family member was shipped back to me in a body bag after being tortured to death sorry but that means WAR! If that means I would be labelled a "violent extremist" who cares!

How much do the Syrian people have to endure before it is OK for them to use violence in order to overthrow the regime...Or is using violence to overthrow such a disgusting & violent regime like the Assad Regime never OK?

Or, are you saying all the reports by the International Media of children being tortured to death for spray painting negative remarks about the Assad regime, unarmed peaceful protesters being shot in large numbers, Syrian soldiers being killed for not shooting unarmed protesters, etc., are nothing but Western Influenced propaganda?

That propaganda is in service of the regime change goal, and if we know one thing about
the West (from its historical record), it is that there is no outrageous/ridiculous lie it would
not stoop to in order to get its wish. I'd be a damned fool if I believe a single freaking thing
of what they say. No fucking way, not from those fucking liars.

observer!

Those kids deserved to be shot anyways!

I think you are allowing your cynicism to override the FACTS!

The Assad regime is disgustingly evil & I hope he gets done to him what he did to all those children!!

And I could care less who does it to him & his wife!

"We had to destroy the cities to save them" to coin a phrase.

Real men have all gone to Tehran, and all.