Syria Sings A Different Song

Syria is getting increasingly unstable, and may be the next Arab dictatorship to collapse. The government says there will be a big announcement in the next day or two, that will satisfy the demands of the growing number of Syrians out in the streets protesting. Maybe, maybe not. The half century old Assad family dictatorship is trying to placate the growing rebel movement with promises of reform and the appointment of new senior officials. But over the last two months, despite thousands of arrests, and several hundred deaths, the unrest, and public demonstrations, grow.

Iran is apparently helping out, with security experts who have recent practice in suppressing public demonstrations back in Iran. Syria has been on Iran's payroll since the 1980s, and Iran appears willing to send people, as well as weapons and more money, to keep its ally afloat. To that end, the Shia militia in Lebanon (Hezbollah) that Iran helped create, and still finances, has apparently sent gunmen into Syria, to provide some dependable muscle against anti-Assad crowds. Iran can ill-afford to lose control of Syria, but that is what is happening. The Sunni majority would more likely become a client of Saudi Arabia, who could afford to subsidize the weak Syrian economy. A less corrupt government would also allow the economy to grow more vigorously. Syria would no longer have to support the Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon (and would, most likely, become quite hostile to it) or Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. Relations with Israel might improve as well